Chief Justice Lynne Boomgaarden of the Wyoming Supreme Court announced on May 14 a vacancy in the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial District due to the resignation of Judge Sheryl Smith Bunting, effective September 16, 2026. The position is based in Sheridan.
The announcement matters for residents and legal professionals in Johnson and Sheridan Counties because circuit courts handle a wide range of cases including traffic violations, protection orders, misdemeanor crimes, eviction actions, small claims complaints, and civil actions with damages less than $50,000.
Expressions of interest from qualified individuals will be accepted by the Judicial Nominating Commission until 5:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on Thursday, June 11. The new judge is scheduled to be sworn in on September 17. Application forms and instructions are available on the Wyoming Judicial Branch’s website. State law requires candidates to be residents of Wyoming and licensed to practice law within the state.
The commission encourages all qualified applicants to apply for this judicial opening. Successful candidates should have relevant experience as well as “a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, a collegial and impartial temperament, sound critical thinking and decision-making abilities, a service-oriented mindset, and a reputation for fairness, integrity, and leadership,” according to Chief Justice Boomgaarden.
After reviewing applications and conducting interviews with candidates who meet eligibility requirements, the commission will submit three names to the governor for consideration. The governor will then appoint one individual from that list.
