Chief Justice Lynne Boomgaarden delivered her first State of the Judiciary address to the 68th Wyoming Legislature in Cheyenne, focusing on judicial independence and the relationship among Wyoming’s three branches of government.
In her remarks, Chief Justice Boomgaarden highlighted three main priorities for the judiciary: trust within the branch, public confidence in the courts, and effective collaboration with both executive and legislative branches. She stated, “The strength of your judicial branch is measured by the trust we share within the Branch, the public confidence we earn, and the working relationships we maintain with the other two branches of government.”
Boomgaarden reported that over the past year, Wyoming’s Supreme Court decided more than 500 new matters. Circuit courts handled over 106,000 new cases, while district courts managed nearly 13,000. The Wyoming Chancery Court has continued to grow steadily; cases there are resolved in an average of 116 days.
She referenced national polling indicating state courts have a 62% public confidence rating—higher than federal courts—and noted a University of Wyoming survey showing state judiciary approval ratings three times higher than disapproval ratings.
“Public trust must be earned daily, through transparency, impartial judgment, and outreach,” said Chief Justice Boomgaarden. She urged legislators and citizens to observe court proceedings directly by visiting courtrooms or serving on juries.
Addressing recent calls for retaliation or defunding based on case outcomes, she warned against political interference: “There is no greater threat to a stable system of government than weakening the judicial branch for political gain.” She added that “Judges are not threatened by efforts to undermine judicial independence, but citizens who rely on fair and impartial courts should be,” referencing Article 2, Section 1 of Wyoming’s Constitution regarding separation of powers.
Boomgaarden also clarified that judicial decisions should not be interpreted as political statements. She reminded lawmakers they retain authority to create or amend laws if dissatisfied with court rulings.
A prepared copy of her address is available online. A video recording can be found from Wyoming PBS.
