Holscher's Hub: An update on the proposed Wyoming Constitutional A...

Holscher's Hub: An update on the proposed Wyoming Constitutional A...: Prior to the election, I summarized all three proposed amendments to the Wyoming Constitution.  Now that the election has come and gone, it ...

Hot Springs County Courthouse, Thermopolis Wyoming

This is the Hot Springs County Courthouse in Thermopolis, Wyoming.  I'm unsure of the vintage of this courthouse, but the monumental style suggests it was built during the 1930s.  The building includes both bas reliefs and reliefs in the windows featuring ancient references to the origins of the law. The courthouse serves the Circuit Court of Wyoming's 5th Judicial District and the the District Court for the same district.

WYOMING STATE BAR SUPPORTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT C

From the Wyoming State Bar:

WYOMING STATE BAR SUPPORTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT C

The Wyoming State Bar would like to encourage Wyoming citizens to vote in favor of Constitutional Amendment C. 

The purpose of Constitutional Amendment C is to enhance the efficiency of the district court by removing two obstacles to the court’s use of court commissioners.  The state constitution currently allows court commissioners appointed by the district judge to conduct “chambers business”, and it grants the court commissioner authority to act in the absence of the district judge from the county.

However, much has changed in the operation of district courts since the 1890 when our constitution was adopted.  The statutes impose more duties and deadlines that can be difficult to fulfill promptly when the district court is conducting trials or other business. The amendment would give the court commissioner authority to act in matters beyond “chambers business,” such as emergency hearings in mental health and juvenile cases, where the district judge is within the county, but is otherwise occupied, such as in  a jury trial.  This would allow the district court to more promptly act on matters of great importance to members of the public.

“This is a simple, necessary and practical change that will increase public access to the court system,” said John Cotton, President of the Wyoming State Bar. “It will improve the legal system and enhance the administration of justice.  I strongly encourage support of the amendment.”

I concur with the opinion of the State Bar.  This would be a worthwhile amendment to the Wyoming State Constitution.

Scottsbluff County Courthouse, Gering Nebraska

This is the Scottsbluff County Courthouse in Gering Nebraska.  Oddly, this courthouse, built in 1921, is not in Scottsbluff but in neighboring Gering.  This courthouse was built in the classical revival style and is an example of County Citadel architecture.

Morrill County Nebraska Courthouse, Bridgeport Nebraska

This is the Morrill County Courthouse in Bridgeport Nebraska.  Nebraska has a fair number of these classically styled county courthouses which remain in current use.  This one was built in 1909.

Kimball County Nebraska Courthouse, Kimball Nebraska

This is the Kimball County Courthouse in Kimball Nebraska.  This fine looking courthouse was opened in 1928 and was constructed of Carthage stone, with floors of Ozark gray marble and fixtures made of solid walnut.  MKTH Photo.

Musselshell County Courthouse, Roundup Montana

This is a not terribly good photograph of the Musselshell County Courthouse in Roundup Montana.  This courthouse was built in 1939 and features some art deco styling to it. 

I have to admit that I would have liked to have acquired a better photograph of this very nice looking 1930s vintage courthouse, but my mere presence on Main Street taking the photograph was getting attention, and I was frankly pressed for time. A shame really, as my chances of rephotographing it are slim.

US Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Oklahoma, Tulsa Oklahoma

Tulsa Municipal Bulding, Tulsa Oklahoma

This is the Tulsa, Oklahoma Municipal Building which housed Tulsa's government between 1917 and 1960.  While I'm not certain that it housed a courthouse, it has that appearance, and I strongly suspect that the city's municipal courthouse was located here.  This building no longer houses Tulsa's city offices.

Jackson federal court among 60 on chopping block

While news isn't our regular feature here, here's something that's topical for this site:

Jackson federal court among 60 on chopping block

I generally avoid commentary here, but I will note that closing this Federal Courthouse, as the interviewed Magistrate indicates, is a poor idea.  The nearest Federal courthouse would be in Mammoth, in Yellowstone National Park, hardly an easy location to commute to.

Additionally, I frankly think it's a shame that many fine Federal courthouse built in Wyoming over the years are no longer used, and in at least one case, have been sold.  Courthouses existed or exist in Lander, Green River and Sheridan which are not in use (and the Sheridan one was sold).  These small, but substantial, courthouses were built in another era, when transportation was more primitive, but still, the Federal Court's presence would basically cease to extend north and west of Casper if this was done, which is to omit most of the state.  I know, of course, that the court would still draw juries statewide, at least theoretically, but the greater the distance becomes, the more theoretical that is, and the less the connection with the court becomes.

Teton County Courthouse, Jackson Wyoming

This is the Teton County Courthouse in Teton County, Wyoming. The photograph is a poor one because, on this high sunlight day, I was presented with heavy shadows in the front of the building.

The courthouse is a modern style one had houses the Teton County Circuit Court and the state 9th Judicial District Court in Teton County.

Town of Jackson, Wyoming Municipal Bulding

This is Jackson's city hall, which is where its city court is located. This photograph was taken in the early 1990s, but the building looks the same today.

Albany County Courthouse, Laramie Wyoming.

This is the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyoming. The courthouse was built in 1931, and is typical for government buildings of that era, which were generally affecting a more "modern" appearance.

This courthouse is one of two courthouses serving the Wyoming's 2nd Judicial District, the other being in Rawlins Wyoming. This courthouse also serves as the seat of the county government and the seat of the Circuit Court for Albany County. The courthouse is perhaps unique in Wyoming in that the presence of the University of Wyoming's College of Law means that it has a bit more student interaction than some other courts.

 Second Judicial District's courtroom.

The memorial to Albany County and University of Wyoming dead of World War One is on this block.

Joseph C. O'Mahoney Federal Courthouse, Cheyenne Wyoming

This poor photograph depicts the Joseph C. O'Mahoney Federal Courthouse in Cheyenne. This is the central Federal Courthouse for the District of Wyoming. This modern office style building contains several courtrooms within it.

This photograph depicts the building from its front, which is not how it is normally photographed. The photograph is a poor one. The building was built in 1965 and is located across an intersection from the Wyoming Supreme Court. Observant viewers will note that it is also across the street from Cathedral Square, which is the block upon which the Catholic Cathedral, St. Mary's Cathedral, is located. On the right hand of the photo you can see the First Presbyterian Church which is across the street from the courthouse. The Wyoming State Capitol is a block away.

Wyoming Supreme Court

This is the courthouse of the Wyoming Supreme Court in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Courthouse is located directly across from the State Capitol building, although it faces the Hathaway building.

This classically styled courthouse has been in use for quite some time, but I neglected to get the date of its construction at the time these photos were taken. The building is generally from the 1930s, and it bears a bit of a resemblance to the former Natrona County Courthouse in Casper Wyoming, which was built of similar materials, and a similar style, during the 1930s. Like that courthouse, this one also features reliefs in the building, although they are less prominent than those in the Natrona County Courthouse. The Wyoming Supreme Court building recently underwent renovations.

This courthouse not only contains the courtroom where oral arguments are heard, but it also contains the court offices and the State Law Library. It sits on a city block in downtown Cheyenne, and is the only structure on the block. Next to the Capitol building, it is the single most impressive state building in Cheyenne.

The Wyoming Supreme Court is the chief court of the Wyoming court system. There is no intermediate court of appeal from District Courts. District Courts, however, do serve as appellate courts for the Circuit Court. Appeals in Wyoming are by right for all matters in the District and Circuit Courts.

Johnson County Courthouse, Buffalo Wyoming

This is the Johnson County Courthouse, in Buffalo Wyoming. It's the second oldest courthouse still operating in its original function in Wyoming, having been built in 1884, when Wyoming was still a Territory. This is one of the two State courthouses in the 4th Judicial District. The other one is located in Sheridan.

This is the courthouse that the Invaders would have been tried in, after the Johnson County War, had the county chosen to retain jurisdiction.

Like the courthouse in Gillette photographs of past judges are present in the courtroom.

The Johnson County War Memorial is located on the corner of the courthouse lot.

Federal Courthouse, Sheridan Wyoming

This building was the Federal Courthouse in Sheridan Wyoming. Like the very similar Federal Courthouse in Lander Wyoming, this courthouse is no longer in use as a Federal Courthouse. This courthouse differs, however, in that the Federal government sold the building, and it is now used for a variety of private businesses. At one time, this building also served as the post office for Sheridan, which was a very common secondary use for Federal Court houses.

Lex Anteinternet: Justice James Barrett

Lex Anteinternet: Justice James Barrett: Justice Barret of the Tenth Circuit passes on . This is outside the scope of our usual musings here, but his obituary is an interesting one...

Sheridan County Wyoming Courthouse, Sheridan Wyoming

This is the Sheridan County Courthouse which is located in the county seat, Sheridan Wyoming. While not obvious from these photographs, the courthouse has a new, and old, section, with the old section being this impressive structure built in 1905. Both sections are visible in these photographs, with the new modern styled office building on the right hand side of the photograph. The old section is one of the oldest standing courthouses in use in Wyoming, and perhaps might be the oldest existing courthouse.

This courthouse (old and new sections combined) houses the Sheridan County Circuit Court and the 4th Judicial District, as well as the county's offices.

Sheridan County Drug Court, Sheridan Wyoming

This is the classically styled building that presently houses the Sheridan County, Wyoming, Drug Court. It was originally the Sheridan County Jail, and is on the same block as the Sheridan County Courthouse,and would appear to have been built fairly close in time to the old section of the courthouse. The Sheridan County Courthouse's dome appears in the background of the first photograph.

Converse County Courthouse, Douglas Wyoming

This is the Converse County Courthouse in Douglas Wyoming. This modern office style building houses all of the principal offices of Converse County, as well as one of the four 8th Judicial District courtrooms.

The Converse County War Memorial is located in the lobby of this courthouse.

Wind River Indian Reservation Tribal Court

This is the Wind River Indian Reservation Tribal Court, which also houses various other law related facilities. The court is located in Ft. Washakie, the seat of government for the Wind River Indian Reservation, and serves the Shoshone and Arapahoe tribes on the reservation.

Weston County Courthouse, Newcastle Wyoming

This is the Weston County Courthouse in Newcastle, Weston County, Wyoming. If this well preserved courthouse is not the oldest operating courthouse in the state, it must be very close to the oldest one still in use. The courthouse houses a courtroom of the 6th Judicial District, which also has a courthouse in Gillette, Wyoming.

Campbell County Courthouse, Gillette Wyoming

This is the Campbell County Courthouse in Gillette Wyoming. The courthouse has been recently added on to, but the additions match so well that it is not really possible to tell. The court houses the district and circuit courts for Wyoming's Eighth Judicial District.

Campbell County's war memorial is located on the same block as the courthouse.

Fremont County Courthouse, Lander Wyoming

This is the Fremont County Courthouse in Lander Wyoming. The courthouse includes all of the administrative offices of Fremont County as well as housing two courtrooms for the Ninth Judicial District, which also has courtrooms in Pinedale Wyoming and Jackson Hole Wyoming.

The courthouse lawn has a nice memorial to all war veterans from Fremont County since statehood, naming them in the memorial.

Federal Courthouse, Lander Wyoming

This is the Federal Courthouse in Lander Wyoming, however it hasn't been used in that capacity in many years. The building is leased out by the Federal government, and chances are that most people, even in Lander, are not aware that this is a courthouse or that it has a courtroom.

I once had a case, about fifteen years ago, in which it was briefly suggested that the trial could be held in the courtroom, when this building was then under lease to the National Outdoor Leadership School, but the suggestion was quickly rejected on the basis that the courtroom had not been used as one in many years, and that it was too small.