Office of Bar Counsel

• Year: 2025
• Citation: Vol. 48 No. 5 Pg. 10
• Pages: 10

Office of Bar Counsel No. Vol. 48 5 Pg. 10 Wyoming Bar Journal October, 2025

Office of Bar Counsel

Mark W. Gifford

Mark Gifford is Bar Counsel for the Wyoming State Bar.

The Case for Community Engagement by Judges

Supreme Court Justice Robert C. Jarosh, a past president of the Wyoming State Bar, wrote of his senior partner Jim Applegate in the April 2018 issue of this magazine:

More extraordinary than Jim's contributions to the legal profession, though, were his contributions outside of it. He was an active-duty lieutenant in the Marines in the mid-1950s. He served two terms in the Wyoming legislature as a state senator for

When judges speak at schools, participate in community forums, or volunteer in civic programs, they demonstrate accessibility. Such activities help demystify their role. Instead of distant, robed figures issuing rulings from lofty courtrooms, judges are seen as relatable individuals who understand daily challenges.

District 8 (1989-1997), including a year as minority floor leader. He volunteered for the Rotary Club, the Board of Public Utilities, the Wyoming Community Development Authority, the Cheyenne Symphony Foundation, the State Board of Law Examiners, the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee, the Wyoming Retirement System Board, Saint Josephs Children's Home in Torrington, United Way, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Saint Mary's Cathedral, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and more. Applegate was named Person of the Year by the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce in 1988, and he received the Community Spirit Award in 2011 from the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

With Wyoming's judiciary facing new challenges, including certain members of the public (some of whom are legislators) advocating for a return to election of judges—something that has not happened in our state for more than 60 years—one wonders if there is anything Wyoming judges can do to heighten the regard they enjoy in their communities.

Traditionally, Wyoming judges were not only decision-makers but civic leaders. Visibility in their communities provided a bridge between judicial authority and the public they serve. Judges engaged with their communities through service organizations, volunteerism and membership on various boards. Such community engagement strengthened the perception of the judiciary as approachable, fair, and invested in their communities outside of the courtroom. They were seen not just as judges but as people. At an early age growing up in Casper, I was aware of who the judges in town were and the esteem and respect they enjoyed in the community.

Judicial authority is premised on public trust and confidence in judges. Without it, a judge's rulings may be viewed with suspicion. More and more it seems that judges are essentially detached from their communities. Some would argue that a degree of isolation is important to preserving impartiality. Others cite the ethical constraints on a judge's extrajudicial activities.

In recent decades, trust in public institutions has eroded. The judiciary, though often held in higher regard compared to other government branches, is not immune from skepticism. Mistrust may stem from perceptions of elitism, lack of transparency, or a belief that judges are disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens.

Community involvement offers a remedy. When judges speak at schools, participate in community forums, or volunteer in civic programs, they demonstrate accessibility. Such activities help demystify their role. Instead of distant, robed figures issuing rulings from lofty courtrooms, judges are seen as relatable individuals who understand daily...