Lex Anteinternet: Book Announcement: On This Day In Wyoming History...

Lex Anteinternet: Book Announcement: On This Day In Wyoming History...: We'd like to announce that our book, On This Day In Wyoming History , will go to press in March and can be pre-ordered from the publishe...

Lex Anteinternet: A glimpse at the judicial system in other nations

Lex Anteinternet: A glimpse at the judicial system in other nations: This morning the Denver Post informs us that: ROME—Italy's highest criminal court on Tuesday overturned Amanda Knox's acquittal...

Lex Anteinternet: Email shows trustee pushed for Wyoming law school ...

Lex Anteinternet: Email shows trustee pushed for Wyoming law school ...: Email shows trustee pushed for Wyoming law school task force - wyofile.com

Four Non-Resident Court Facilities to Close in Cost-Cutting Move | United States Courts

Four Non-Resident Court Facilities to Close in Cost-Cutting Move | United States Courts

Carbon County Courthouse, Rawlins Wyoming

This is the Carbon County Courthouse in Rawlins Wyoming.  This Depression era courthouse was built by the Works Project Administration, like the former courthouse in Casper, Wyoming.  It houses the Carbon County Court and also serves Wyoming's Second Judicial District together with the courthouse in Albany County.

This courthouse is unique for a classic Wyoming courthouse in that it sits on an entire city block in the center of town.  While not visible in these photos, due to the mature trees, the courthouse is also unique in that it was built with attached substantial living quarters which served the sheriff and his family at the time of its construction. The concept was that the sheriff would need to live there, as the jail was housed in the courthouse.

Commentary on Lex Anteinternet: Dean Easton Resigns

Lex Anteinternet: Lex Anteinternet: Dean Easton Resigns: When the letter noted here; Lex Anteinternet: Dean Easton Resigns : came in yesterday, most of the lawyers I know were pretty surprised. We...

Lex Anteinternet: Dean Easton Resigns

Lex Anteinternet: Dean Easton Resigns: Interesting development at the UW law school as of yesterday:   Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Friends of UW College o...

Still Open For Business

This is an announcement e-mail message generated by Court action through the CM/ECF system. Please DO NOT RESPOND to this e-mail because the mail box is unattended.

Judiciary to Remain Open If Government Shuts Down

In the event of a government shutdown on October 1, 2013, the Federal Judiciary will remain open for business for approximately 10 business days. On or around October 15, 2013, the Judiciary will reassess its situation and provide further guidance. All proceedings and deadlines remain in effect as scheduled, unless otherwise advised. Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) will remain in operation for the electronic filing of documents with courts.

Lex Anteinternet: They had been lawyers. . . lawyers who were notabl...

Lex Anteinternet: They had been lawyers. . . lawyers who were notabl...: As those who occasionally stop in here know, the purpose of this blog has been to gather, record and explore information for the purpose of...

Wyoming Supreme Court Camera and Electronic Device Policy.

WscCameraWirelessDevicePolicy.pdf

Lex Anteinternet: Contempt of Court

Lex Anteinternet: Contempt of Court: I don't follow the news of criminal trials, or even civil trials, that occur outside of the local area.  I suspect that's surprisin...

Holscher's Hub: Lahaina Cannons.

Holscher's Hub: Lahaina Cannons.: The Lehaina Cannons, two cannons raised from a sunken Russian warship that went down in 1816 off of Honolulu.  The guns were moved to th...

Lahaina Banyan Courthouse, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.

This is the Lahaina Banyan Courthouse in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. The courthouse was built in 1859 to replace a courthouse that had been destroyed in a typhoon the prior year.  The courthouse served the Kingdom of Hawaii until in U.S. annexation in 1898.  It was renovated, while still being used as a courthouse in 1925.  It is now a museum, visitors center and a community center.

Lex Anteinternet: Sequestration and the courts

Lex Anteinternet: Sequestration and the courts: From this morning's Denver Post: U.S. District Court in Denver won't hold hearings and trials in criminal cases on Fridays betw...

Lex Anteinternet: A glimpse at the judicial system in other nations

Lex Anteinternet: A glimpse at the judicial system in other nations: This morning the Denver Post informs us that: ROME—Italy's highest criminal court on Tuesday overturned Amanda Knox's acquittal...

Big Horn County Courthouse, Basin Wyoming

This is the classic courthouse of Big Horn County, Wyoming, another court in the state's 5th Judicial District.  The court sits on enormous grounds.  It was built in 1918.

Washakie County Courthouse, Worland Wyoming

 

This is the Washakie County Courthouse in Worland, Wyoming.  The Courthouse dates from the early 1950s (1954, I think).  It's a classically styled courthouse, with a single large courtroom.  I've tried one case in this courthouse, some years ago.

 Entrance to the adjoining jail, which is a substantial structure, mostly from the same era, itself.

  

 A somewhat visually jarring feature of this courthouse is the small Chamber of Commerce building on the corner.  That structure oddly has the appearance of a 1950s vintage drive in restaurant, and its my suspicion that it was.  I wonder if it might have predated the building of the courthouse which, together with the jail, takes up the entire block.

 Large American Indian monument, carved from a substantial block of Douglas fir, on courthouse grounds.

Law Library Letter: Summary 2013 WY 14

Law Library Letter: Summary 2013 WY 14

Pennington County Courthouse, Rapid City, South Dakota

This is the Pennington County Courthouse in Rapid City, South Dakota.  The original Greek Revival style courthouse was built in 1922, with the addition being added in 1990.

Lex Anteinternet: A legal Gerontocracy?

Lex Anteinternet: A legal Gerontocracy?: There's a bill pending in Wyoming's legislature which proposes to remove the mandatory retirement age for the judiciary, which is pre...

Lex Anteinternet: What people read

Lex Anteinternet: What people read: We've had this blog up for a couple of years now, with the first posts being in 2009 . There were none in 2010, but we really took off in p...

Wyoming Judicial Branch: Live broadcasts of oral arguments

The Wyoming Judicial Branch is now broadcasting oral arguments at the Supreme Court live.

Lex Anteinternet: Wyoming Adopts the Uniform Bar Exam, and why that'...

Lex Anteinternet: Wyoming Adopts the Uniform Bar Exam, and why that'...: Students of legal minutia know that the phrase "to pass the bar", or "to be called to the bar", refers to an actual physical feature in an ...

Lex Anteinternet: Peculiarized violence and American society. Looki...

Lex Anteinternet: Peculiarized violence and American society. Looki...: Because of the horrific senseless tragedy in Newton Connecticut, every pundit and commentator in the US is writing on the topic of what cau...

Fergus County Montana Courthouse, Lewistown Montana

This is the very impressive Fergus County Courthouse in Lewistown Montana.  Lewistown is full of surprises, as its a small town with some very substantial architecture, including this wonderful courthouse, which was built in 1908.

As can be seen from these photographs, the courthouse grounds has several monuments on it, at least one of which I missed.

A second set of photos from our Flickr site:

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.