Chief Justice Boomgaarden delivers 2026 State of the Judiciary address

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Chief Justice Lynne Boomgaarden delivered her first State of the Judiciary address to the 68th Wyoming Legislature today, emphasizing the critical importance of judicial independence and the strength of Wyoming’s three-branch system of government.

In her address, Chief Justice Boomgaarden outlined the judiciary’s commitment to three core principles: internal trust within the branch, public confidence in the courts, and collaborative working relationships with the executive and legislative branches.

“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,” Chief Justice Boomgaarden said.

The Chief Justice reported that Wyoming’s judicial system continues to serve the public effectively:

• The Wyoming Supreme Court decided more than 500 new matters in the past year.
• Circuit courts managed over 106,000 new cases.
• District courts handled nearly 13,000 new cases.
• The Wyoming Chancery Court has seen steady growth, with cases resolved in an average of 116 days.

National polling shows that state courts maintain a 62% public confidence rating, exceeding that of federal courts. A University of Wyoming survey revealed state judiciary approval ratings three times higher than disapproval ratings.

“Public trust must be earned daily, through transparency, impartial judgment, and outreach,” Chief Justice Boomgaarden stated. She encouraged legislators and citizens to visit courtrooms, serve on juries and attend arguments to see firsthand how justice is administered.

Chief Justice Boomgaarden directly addressed recent rhetoric suggesting retaliation or defunding of courts based on case outcomes, noting there “is no greater threat to a stable system of government than weakening the judicial branch for political gain.”

“Judges are not threatened by efforts to undermine judicial independence, but citizens who rely on fair and impartial courts should be,” she said, citing Article 2, Section 1 of Wyoming’s Constitution, which establishes the separation of powers among the three branches of government.

The Chief Justice emphasized that judicial decisions are not political statements and reminded the audience that the legislature has the authority to create new laws, amend existing ones, or propose constitutional amendments if court decisions are unpopular.

A copy of the prepared address is available here. A video recording of the address is available from Wyoming PBS.