WY · rules
Wyo. Code of Jud. Conduct R. 4.2
Political and Campaign Activities of Judicial Candidates in Public Retention Elections
(A) A judge who is a candidate* for retention in office shall:
(1) act at all times in a manner consistent with the independence,*
integrity,* and impartiality* of the judiciary;
(2) comply with all applicable retention election, retention election campaign, and retention election campaign fund-raising laws and regulations of
this jurisdiction;
(3) maintain the dignity appropriate to judicial office, and shall encourage
members of his or her family to adhere to the same standards of political
conduct that apply to the judge;
(4) prohibit public officials or employees subject to the judge’s direction or
control from doing for the judge what he or she is prohibited from doing
under this Canon; and except to the extent authorized under subsection (B),
the judge shall not allow any other person to do for the judge what he or she
is prohibited from doing under this Canon;
(5) not make pledges or promises of conduct in office other than the
faithful and impartial* performance of the duties of the office; announce how
the judge would rule on any case or issue that might come before the judge;
or misrepresent his or her identity, qualifications, present position, or other
fact.
(B) A judge who is a candidate* for retention in office shall abstain from any
campaign activity in connection with the judge’s own candidacy unless there is
active opposition to his or her retention in office. If there is active opposition to
the retention of a candidate* judge:
(1) the judge may speak at public meetings;
(2) the judge may use advertising media, provided that the advertising
media is within the bounds of proper judicial decorum;
(3) a nonpartisan citizens’ committee or committees advocating the
judge’s retention in office may be organized by others, either on their own
initiative or at the request of the judge;
(4) any committee organized pursuant to subsection (B)(3) may raise
funds for the judge’s retention election campaign, but the judge shall not
solicit funds personally or accept any funds except those paid to the judge by
a committee for reimbursement of the judge’s retention election campaign
expenses; and,
(5) the judge shall not be advised of the source of funds raised by the
committees.
(6) the judge shall not knowingly,* or with reckless disregard for the
truth, make any false or misleading statement;
(7) the judge shall not make any statement that would reasonably be
expected to affect the outcome or impair the fairness of a matter pending* or
impending* in any court; or
(8) the judge shall not in connection with cases, controversies, or issues
that are likely to come before the court, make pledges, promises, or
commitments that are inconsistent with the impartial* performance of the
adjudicative duties of judicial office.
History
Comment. — [1] Section 4.2 (B) allows judges seeking retention in office to engage in certain activities if there is active opposition to their retention. Active opposition is difficult to define, but is intended to include any form of public opposition. The term is meant to be broadly construed. [2] A judge may respond to unsolicited requests from non-partisan groups to provide general biographical information concerning the judge or the judge’s candidacy for retention. A judge may also provide, without request, general information pertaining to the retention and selection of judges and the general functions of the judiciary. [3] A judge is encouraged to educate the public about the role of the judiciary and the process of judicial selection. Any such educational efforts are not campaign activity.
Provenance
- Source
- wyocourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
4ff325dff42f1173479bf6884c20faf63360a4efd12fc0b914735b93ceedf209
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