ARTICLE 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a) Pursuant to the provisions of section 10 of article 5 of the Wyoming Constitution, a circuit court is hereby established for each judicial district of the state of Wyoming enumerated in W.S. 5-3-101, and the boundaries of each circuit court shall be the same as those of each judicial district enumerated therein. Except as otherwise provided in this act, each county within the circuit shall receive the services of the circuit court.

(b) The judicial salaries, salaries of the clerical staff, supplies, operating costs, jury expenses and other expenses of the circuit court shall be paid by the state.

(a) The legislature shall from time to time authorize the number and location of circuit court judges.

(b) The supreme court may, based on caseload studies, determine where within a circuit the circuit court judge shall reside.

The governing body of any city or town situate within a judicial district in which a circuit court is established may petition the supreme court to extend the jurisdiction of the circuit court to determine and try all persons charged with violation of the ordinances of the city or town. The contribution that the city or town will make toward the expenses of the circuit court whose jurisdiction includes enforcing the ordinances of the city or town shall be set and paid as provided by written contract of the circuit judges and the governing board of the city or town involved, with the approval of the supreme court.

All money collected by a judge of a circuit court for violations of ordinances of a city or town shall be paid into the general fund of the city or town whose ordinance was violated. The circuit court shall keep separate account books of funds for ordinance violations as designated by the Wyoming supreme court. All fines and penalties under the general laws of the state shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the public school fund of the county.

The Wyoming supreme court is hereby vested with management and supervisory powers over the circuit courts of the state of Wyoming, and shall, by rule of the supreme court establish procedures and regulations for the effective and expeditious administration of the business of the circuit courts and shall establish fees and costs for those courts. The Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure for Circuit Courts and the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure for Circuit Courts, as amended or supplemented from time to time, shall govern circuit courts.

The circuit court shall be called the "Circuit Court of the .... (Number of the Judicial District) Judicial District, .... (Name of County) County, State of Wyoming" which shall be a court of record. The circuit court shall be presided over by a circuit judge.

The terms of circuit court judges shall be four (4) years. Each judge selected under the provisions of article 5, section 4, of the Wyoming Constitution shall serve for one (1) year after his appointment and until the first Monday in January following the next general election after the expiration of such year. He shall, at such general election, stand for retention in office throughout the circuit as provided in article 5, section 4, of the Wyoming Constitution.

Judges of the circuit court shall be nonpartisan, shall be nominated and appointed and retained as provided by article 5, section 4, of the Wyoming Constitution.

(a) To be eligible for appointment to the office of judge of a circuit court, a person shall be:

(i) A qualified elector of the state; and

(ii) Authorized to practice law in Wyoming.

Vacancies occurring in the office of judge of a circuit court shall be filled as provided by article 5, section 4, of the Wyoming Constitution.

If the office of judge of a circuit court becomes vacant by reason of death, removal from office, or otherwise, the senior circuit court judge, or if there is none, the clerk of the district court shall take charge of the official records and papers of the judge and deliver them to the successor in office of that judge.

A judge of a circuit court with whom the records of his predecessor have been deposited has the same jurisdiction over all actions and proceedings entered in such records as if they were originally commenced before him.

Circuit court judges shall receive the annual salary provided by W.S. 5-1-110(a)(iii). When a new salary is effective for any judge of a circuit court upon new appointment or the commencement of a new term, it shall be effective for all judges of the circuit courts. In addition to salary, the state shall reimburse a judge of a circuit court for those traveling expenses actually incurred when the business of the circuit court requires his attendance more than five (5) miles from the place where he regularly holds court.

Before assuming the duties of his office, a judge of a circuit court shall take and subscribe before a district judge or a clerk of a court of record the oath of office prescribed by the constitution of Wyoming.

A judge of a circuit court may be appointed to and hold the office of district court commissioner. A judge of a circuit court shall devote full time to the office and may not engage in the private practice of law. A magistrate of a circuit court, who is otherwise authorized to practice law in Wyoming, may engage in the private practice of law so long as that practice does not conflict with his duties as magistrate of a circuit court.

(a) The judges of the circuit courts may hold court for each other and shall do so when required by law. The expenses of any judge of a circuit court holding court in any circuit other than his own or in any district court pursuant to assignment under W.S. 5-3-112, including travel expenses and his expenses while holding court, shall be charged to the contingent fund of the circuit court in whose circuit he is holding court or to the contingent fund of the district court in whose district he is holding court pursuant to assignment under W.S. 5-3-112.

(b) A party to any action in circuit court may disqualify a circuit judge as provided by rules adopted by the supreme court for disqualification. Upon disqualification, or inability for any reason to fulfill his duties, the circuit judge shall appoint another circuit judge from his own or a different circuit or a district judge from his own or a different district, or a magistrate from the county in which the case is to be tried if no other circuit judge is available, to try the action.

(d) Any retired circuit court judge of this state who is not practicing law may, with his consent and the consent of the chief justice, at the request of a circuit court judge be assigned to hear a case in a circuit court as otherwise authorized by law. During any period of assignment, a retired circuit court judge shall receive as compensation an amount equal to the current compensation of a judge of the court to which he is assigned. The compensation received by a retired circuit court judge during any period of assignment shall not affect the receipt of any retirement allowance of the retired circuit court judge during the period of assignment. Assignments of retired circuit court judges under this section shall only be made in a manner that does not jeopardize the qualified status of state retirement plans established by the Wyoming legislature. When called to serve, a retired circuit court judge shall receive the same per diem and travel allowance as allowed active circuit court judges. Per diem allowances and compensation shall be paid from the contingent fund of the court to which the retired judge is assigned.

While holding court, judges of a circuit court shall wear a black judicial robe.

Each circuit court shall have a seal. Each court shall use a seal having upon it the inscription: "Circuit Court of the .... (Number of the Judicial District) Judicial District, .... (Name of County) County, State of Wyoming". The seal of a circuit court shall be affixed by a stamp that reproduces legibly under photographic processes. A judge of a circuit court shall affix his seal to every jurat or certificate of his official acts without additional fee.

The supreme court shall submit one (1) budget for the operation of all circuit courts, itemized by circuit, to the legislature for appropriation for each biennial period using forms and following procedures provided by law for state agencies funded by legislative appropriation. The supreme court shall submit the circuit courts' budget in the same manner as provided for the supreme court budget in W.S. 5-2-123.

A judge of a circuit court may appoint clerical assistants as necessary for the efficient operation of the court, within the limits of the approved budget.

The board of county commissioners shall provide suitable quarters to house the circuit court and shall provide necessary furniture and fixtures to enable it to function in accordance with this act. Each judge shall be furnished by the state of Wyoming, without charge, the American and Wyoming state flags, the latest edition of the Wyoming Statutes, cumulative supplements thereto and the latest Session Laws of Wyoming. All property furnished to a judge shall remain the property of the governmental unit supplying the same, and upon termination of a judge's term of office, shall be transmitted to his successor in office.

The circuit court shall be continuously in session.

Circuit courts shall be open for the transaction of business during regular business hours, and in criminal matters a judge, magistrate or district court commissioner shall be available at all times for fixing and accepting bail, issuing warrants including search warrants, and conducting arraignment proceedings.

The process of a circuit court shall extend throughout the state.

(a) Each circuit court has exclusive original civil jurisdiction within the boundaries of the state for:

(i) An action where the prayer for recovery is an amount not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), exclusive of court costs;

(ii) Actions to recover specific personal property the value of which does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), exclusive of court costs and shall be prosecuted in accordance with W.S. 1-15-301 through 1-15-306;

(iii) Actions to foreclose or enforce a lien on or security interest in personal property perfected under the Uniform Commercial Code, W.S. 34.1-1-101 through 34.1-10-104, when the amount claimed on the lien or security interest does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), exclusive of court costs;

(iv) Actions for small claims as provided by W.S. 1-21-201 through 1-21-205;

(v) Actions for forcible entry or detainer as provided by W.S. 1-21-1001 through 1-21-1016;

(vi) Actions to foreclose and enforce the following statutory liens only, when the amount claimed on the lien does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), exclusive of court costs:

(A) Construction liens as provided by W.S. 29-2-101 through 29-2-113;

(B) Liens for labor and materials as provided by W.S. 29-4-101 and 29-4-102;

(D) Liens for taxes as provided by W.S. 39-15-108(d).

(vii) Actions to dispose of an abandoned vehicle as provided by W.S. 31-13-112(e), regardless of the value of the abandoned vehicle.

(b) The circuit court may issue writs of attachment or garnishment as provided by W.S. 1-15-101 through 1-15-212 and 1-15-401 through 1-15-511, and may issue judgment, execution and stay of execution, and order the sale of the property seized under execution as provided by W.S. 1-19-101 through 1-19-108 and 1-21-401 through 1-21-703. A writ of execution issuing from a circuit court shall be in the form and subject to the provisions of W.S. 1-17-308.

(c) The judge may submit to arbitration any civil matter pending in circuit court, upon agreement of the parties as provided by W.S. 1-21-801 through 1-21-804, or upon application of either party showing an arbitration agreement and refusal of the opposing party to arbitrate as provided by W.S. 1-36-101 through 1-36-119.

(d) The provisions of W.S. 5-1-107 pertaining to the exercise of personal jurisdiction apply in the circuit courts.

(e) The circuit court shall have jurisdiction to enforce and make findings under the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, W.S. 2-3-1001 through 2-3-1017. This jurisdiction shall include the authority to make necessary findings concerning compliance with federal law as required by the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act.

Circuit courts have original jurisdiction in all misdemeanor criminal cases.

For purposes of assignment, all circuit court judges throughout the state shall have concurrent jurisdiction with all district court judges throughout the state.

(a) A circuit court judge may assign to a district court judge or a chancery court judge any case or proceeding within the jurisdiction of the circuit court subject only to the following restrictions:

(i) Rules promulgated by the supreme court; and

(ii) Acceptance of the judge to whom the assignment of the case or proceeding is to be made.

(b) The law and rules governing circuit court and appeals therefrom shall apply to a case or proceeding assigned pursuant to this section.

(a) Judges and magistrates of the circuit court are authorized to set bail before trial in accordance with this subsection and with the rules of the Wyoming supreme court. Judges and magistrates of the circuit court shall have the power and the duty to decide promptly the bail application of any person arrested for a violation of state law within the county, whether or not the formal document charging the person with a violation of state law has been filed with the court.

(b) Preliminary examinations for persons charged with a felony shall be conducted by the circuit court judge or magistrate.

(c) Preliminary examinations of persons charged with a misdemeanor shall not be conducted for a determination of probable cause.

(a) A circuit court may:

(i) Preserve and enforce order in its immediate presence and in the proceedings before it according to the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure for Circuit Courts and punish for contempt as provided therein;

(ii) Compel obedience to its judgments, orders, and processes;

(iii) Control, in furtherance of justice, the conduct of its ministerial officers, and of all other persons in any manner connected with judicial proceedings before it, in every matter pertaining thereto;

(iv) Issue warrants, including search warrants, summonses, subpoenas or other process in civil and criminal cases;

(v) Administer oaths and affirmations and take bail, acknowledgments, affidavits, and depositions;

(vi) Amend and control its process and orders to make them conformable to law and justice;

(vii) Proceed to trial, render judgment, and grant writs of execution to carry into effect any order or judgment of the court;

(viii) Perform marriage ceremonies.

The circuit court may place a criminal defendant on probation pursuant to W.S. 7-13-301 through 7-13-307. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the probation period for a defendant whose disposition includes participation in a substance abuse treatment program or a court supervised treatment program may exceed the maximum term of imprisonment established for the offense, but shall not exceed three (3) years. The court shall conduct, on at least a monthly basis, a review on the progress of a defendant sentenced to treatment under this section. The review may be conducted in a manner the court deems appropriate, but shall include receiving regular progress reports from the treatment provider.

For all civil matters the circuit court shall collect from the plaintiff an original filing fee of twenty dollars ($20.00), a court automation fee of forty dollars ($40.00), and an indigent civil legal services fee of ten dollars ($10.00) excluding small claims civil actions as provided in W.S. 1-21-201 through 1-21-205 which shall have a filing fee of ten dollars ($10.00). The court automation fee shall be deposited into the judicial systems automation account and the indigent civil legal services fee shall be deposited into the indigent civil legal services account as provided by W.S. 5-9-144.

In civil actions in a circuit court, a jury shall be considered waived unless demand is made by either party as provided by the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure and a jury fee in the amount provided by the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure is paid to the clerk of the circuit court and thereafter is deposited and dispersed as provided by the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure. In criminal proceedings in a circuit court the accused shall have the right to a trial by jury unless such right is waived as provided by the Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Jurors shall be selected from the jury lists selected for the district courts of the state pursuant to the provisions of W.S. 1-11-101 through 1-11-204.

(a) At any time while the papers in any case in which a judgment has been rendered by a circuit court are retained by the court, the judge shall certify and deliver an abstract of the judgment to any person on the payment of a five dollar ($5.00) fee.

(b) The judgment creditor in any judgment rendered in circuit court may file with the clerk of the district court and record with the county clerk of the county in which the judgment was rendered a transcript thereof, certifying therein the amount paid thereon, if any. The clerk of the district court shall enter the case on the execution docket, together with the amount of the judgment. If within ten (10) days after the judgment was rendered, the judgment debtor pays the same or gives bond for stay of execution, the circuit judge shall immediately certify that fact to the clerk of the district court and the county clerk. The clerk of the district court shall enter a memorandum thereof upon the execution docket. The cost of the transcript, the filing, recording and the entry on the docket shall be paid by the party who files and records the transcript and may be taxed to the other party. The judgment shall be a lien on the real estate of the judgment debtor within the county from the day and time the transcript is recorded with the county clerk. Execution may be issued on the judgment at any time after filing the transcript with the clerk of the district court as if the judgment had been rendered in the district court.

(c) The judgment creditor in any judgment rendered by any circuit court in this state and filed in the judgment record of the district court, may file a transcript of the judgment record of the district court with the clerk of the district court and record a transcript of the judgment with the county clerk in any other county within this state where the judgment debtor owns real estate. The judgment is a lien upon all real estate of the judgment debtor in any county in which the transcript is recorded with the county clerk from the date of recording with the county clerk. The clerk of the district court of any county in which the transcript is filed shall enter the judgment upon the judgment records of the court in the same manner as judgments are rendered in that court.

(a) In any judicial proceedings before the circuit court, unless waived by the parties whenever the presiding judge of a circuit court shall deem it necessary, or upon the request of either party, the court shall provide for the reporting of the testimony and proceedings, with objections made, the rulings of the court, and oral and written charges. The reporting may be made by stenographic reporting, electronic recording or other appropriate means authorized by the court.

(b) The testimony and proceedings shall be retained and preserved for at least twelve (12) months after entry of final judgment, sentence, or order on appeal if an appeal is taken.

If the record is to be made by a stenographic reporter, the judge shall appoint a special stenographic reporter to report the testimony and proceedings. If the record is made by means of electronic recording, the judge shall appoint a special reporter to make the electronic recording, and in those cases in which it is required, the judge shall appoint an official stenographer to furnish with reasonable diligence a typewritten transcript of the testimony and proceedings. The report of the official stenographer, when typewritten and certified by him as a correct transcript of the testimony and proceedings in the case, shall be prima facie a correct statement of such testimony and proceedings. The signature of the stenographer on the certification of the transcript shall be duly acknowledged by him before a notarial officer of this state.

In civil and criminal cases a judge of a district court shall review the case on the record on appeal.

In a civil matter no execution on a judgment may be stayed unless and until the party applying for the appeal, or someone for him, gives bond in an amount and with sufficient surety approved by the judge of the district court or the clerk of the district court, to abide by such judgment as may be rendered on appeal if such appeal is perfected, or if not so perfected, then to satisfy the judgment of the circuit court. If such bond is furnished by or on behalf of any party against whom the judgment has been rendered for money or property or both, the bond shall be conditioned for the performance and satisfaction of such judgment or order as may be entered against such party on appeal, and for the payment of all costs and damages which may be awarded against him in the district court. If the appeal is by a party against whom there is no recovery except for costs, the bond shall be conditioned for the payment of such costs and damages as may be awarded against him on the appeal.

The district court to which an appeal is taken from a circuit court in a civil case may on motion for good cause shown, after five (5) days notice to the appellant, require the appellant to give new or additional security. If the security is not given within the time prescribed by the district court, the appeal shall be dismissed with costs, and the judgment of the circuit court shall remain in effect, and the district court shall enter judgment and award execution thereon, with costs, against the appellant and his surety.

When any money is paid into a circuit court, a receipt for said amount shall be issued promptly upon a form prescribed by the Wyoming supreme court. The receipts shall be prenumbered in numerical sequence. The original copy shall be delivered to a payor making payment by cash or in person, otherwise the original shall be attached to the court file. A copy shall be filed in the office of the issuing judge. The receipts shall be prenumbered by the printer, and the printer shall give to the supreme court a receipt showing the numbers so printed. Except as provided in W.S. 5-9-106, the circuit court shall pay all fines, forfeitures and other penalties to the county treasurer and all fees, costs and other receipts to the state treasurer. The court automation fee prescribed by W.S. 5-9-135 or established by court rule shall be deposited by the state treasurer into the judicial systems automation account established by W.S. 5-2-120. The indigent civil legal services fee prescribed by W.S. 5-9-135 shall be deposited by the state treasurer into the indigent civil legal services account established by W.S. 5-2-121. The police officer continuing education and training fee prescribed by W.S. 31-5-1201(h) shall be deposited by the state treasurer into the account in the enterprise fund under W.S. 9-1-633(n).

Failure, refusal, or neglect of a judge of a circuit court to give a receipt as required by W.S. 5-9-144, for any money paid into the circuit court is misconduct, which constitutes cause for removal from office.

When any fines, forfeitures, costs or fees are deposited with the judge of a circuit court pursuant to any action or proceedings in the court, or pursuant to any order, decree or judgment of the court, the money in his possession shall be deposited no later than the tenth day following the month of receipt with the county or state treasurer, except as provided in W.S. 5-9-106. If the money has not been so deposited by the tenth day of the month and no just cause is shown, said judge shall forfeit twenty-five dollars ($25.00) a day for each day after the tenth day of the month during which the deposits have not been made.

The Wyoming supreme court shall establish, supervise, and as necessary from time to time, modify a uniform system of accounting, including a system of regular audits for circuit courts, to provide for the proper and uniform accounting of all money received and disbursed by circuit courts, and all judges of the circuit courts shall comply therewith.

Failure to keep accounts pursuant to the system established by the Wyoming supreme court or failure to account for money paid into and disbursed by the circuit court is misconduct, which may constitute cause for removal from office.

The accounting system established by the Wyoming supreme court may provide for bank accounts for each circuit court in which money received by the circuit court may be deposited and disbursed as provided therein, and for such records, reports and procedures as the supreme court requires. If a bank account is established into which fines, costs or forfeitures are deposited, the accounting system established by the supreme court shall require, where available, the use of accounts in a financial institution authorized by W.S. 9-4-803(a) which may earn interest, in which the deposits are subject to payment upon demand and which are insured or secured as provided in W.S. 9-4-817(c). Interest earned on deposits of fines and forfeitures in such accounts shall be forwarded monthly to the county treasurer and credited to the county public school fund. Interest earned on all other deposits in such accounts shall be forwarded to the state treasurer quarterly and credited to the victim's compensation account created by W.S. 1-40-114(a).

The accounts of each circuit court shall be examined by the Wyoming supreme court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court.

Each circuit court shall submit annual accounts to the state auditor and supreme court under rules prescribed by the supreme court.

(a) If it is apparent through examination conducted by the Wyoming supreme court, or by other means, that any fines or forfeitures have not been transmitted, the county attorney shall bring suit to enforce the collection or transmittal, or both. Failure to transmit fines, forfeitures or costs is misconduct which constitutes cause for removal from office.

(b) Repealed By Laws 2011, Ch. 57, § 1.

The records kept by a judge of a circuit court shall be public and available for examination during the regular business hours of the court. The state department of audit, Wyoming supreme court, the attorney general or the county attorney of the particular county in which the circuit court is situated may examine them at any time upon demand.

(a) The supreme court may authorize, develop and implement an electronic transaction system via internet technology or similar medium for submittal of payment to the circuit courts of all fees, penalties and fines and bonds for misdemeanor offenses for which bond may be posted and forfeited. The supreme court shall ensure that any electronic transaction system implemented shall ensure compliance with W.S. 5-9-144, 5-9-146, 5-9-149 and any other applicable provisions of law. The supreme court shall further ensure that the adopted electronic transaction system provides for efficient, safe, secure and accurate transactions.