Wyoming Attorney General

Wyoming Attorney General
Post	Attorney General of Wyoming
Incumbent	Bridget Hill
Incumbentsince	2019
Department	Office of the Attorney General
Seat	Cheyenne
Appointing	Governor of Wyoming
Formation	1890
First	Benjamin F. 808

Wyoming Attorney General The Wyoming Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Wyoming, charged with representing the State in civil and criminal matters before the United States Supreme Court, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and state tribunals such as the Wyoming Supreme Court and district courts in Laramie County, Wyoming and across Natrona County, Wyoming. The office provides legal advice to the Governor of Wyoming, state agencies including the Wyoming Department of Health, the Wyoming Department of Education, and boards such as the Wyoming State Board of Equalization. The Attorney General also coordinates with federal entities including the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and regional partners like the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.

Role and Responsibilities

The Attorney General advises executive officers including the Governor of Wyoming, the Wyoming Legislature, and statewide officials such as the Wyoming Secretary of State and the Wyoming State Auditor on statutory interpretation of laws like the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and enforcement of statutes enacted by the Wyoming Senate and the Wyoming House of Representatives. The office prosecutes or defends matters for agencies including the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Wyoming Department of Transportation before forums such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, administrative tribunals like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and state tribunals including the Wyoming Board of Medicine. The Attorney General issues formal legal opinions influencing operations of entities like the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Community College Commission, and localities such as the City of Cheyenne and the City of Casper.

Appointment and Term

The Attorney General is appointed by the Governor of Wyoming with advice from executive staff and confirmation procedures that engage the Wyoming Legislature and leaders such as the President of the Wyoming Senate and the Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives. Appointments have been made by governors including Matt Mead, Mark Gordon, and Freudenthal, Dave; the officeholder serves at the pleasure of the governor with duties tied to terms of governors like Jim Geringer and Mike Sullivan. Historical appointments have intersected with state events such as the Wyoming Constitutional Convention of 1889–1890 and policy debates involving agencies like the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Office Structure and Divisions

The Office of the Attorney General contains divisions modeled after counterparts in jurisdictions like the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, featuring units such as the Litigation Division, Criminal Division, Civil Division, and Consumer Protection Unit that litigate alongside offices like the Federal Public Defender and coordinate with federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Environmental Protection Agency. Specialized teams handle matters involving the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the Wyoming Public Service Commission, and regulatory disputes before bodies such as the Surface Transportation Board. The office employs attorneys who previously served at institutions like the University of Wyoming College of Law, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming, and law firms with experience in litigation before courts including the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming.

List of Attorneys General

Attorneys General have included figures who participated in regional and national legal networks such as members who later served in offices interacting with the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, as well as legal scholars from institutions like the Yale Law School and the Harvard Law School. Past attorneys general worked on matters involving entities such as the Union Pacific Railroad, the Chevron Corporation, and the Department of the Interior, and collaborated with state leaders including governors Stanley Hathaway and Ed Herschler. Notable predecessors engaged with litigation concerning the North Platte River, energy disputes involving ExxonMobil, and natural resource issues before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Notable Actions and Legal Opinions

The office has issued influential opinions and led litigation on topics involving interstate compacts like the Colorado River Compact, regulatory issues with the Bureau of Land Management, and challenges tied to federal statutes including the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act. Attorneys General have brought or joined suits with other states in coalitions alongside offices from Texas, Oklahoma, and Montana concerning matters before the United States Supreme Court and the Tenth Circuit, and have submitted amicus briefs in cases involving the Energy Policy Act and disputes over Sage Grouse conservation in filings against the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and agencies such as the National Park Service.

Controversies and Litigation Involving the Office

The office has been central to disputes over resource governance involving corporations such as Shell Oil Company and BP, litigation over federal land management by the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service, and controversies tied to policies from administrations including the Trump administration and the Obama administration. High-profile matters have involved coordination with the American Civil Liberties Union and state sheriffs like those in Natrona County, Wyoming in actions concerning criminal statutes and enforcement practices. Cases have reached appellate courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court, reflecting tensions among state agencies, private industry participants such as Halliburton, and federal regulators like the Environmental Protection Agency.

Category:Wyoming law Category:Wyoming state constitutional officers