Wyo. Code of Jud. Conduct Terminology

Each time any term listed below is used in a Rule in its defined sense, it is

followed by an asterisk (*).

“Appropriate authority” means the authority having responsibility for

initiation of disciplinary process in connection with the violation to be

reported. See Rule 2.15.

“Contribution” means both financial and in-kind contributions, such as

goods, professional or volunteer services, advertising, and other types of

assistance, which, if obtained by the recipient otherwise, would require a

financial expenditure. See Rules, 3.7, and 4.1.

“De minimis” in the context of interests pertaining to disqualification of a

judge, means an insignificant interest that could not raise a reasonable

question regarding the judge’s impartiality. See Rule 2.11.

“Domestic partner” means a person with whom another person maintains

a household and an intimate relationship, other than a person to whom he or

she is legally married. See Rules 2.11, 3.13, and 3.14.

“Economic interest” means ownership of more than a de minimis legal or

equitable interest. Except for situations in which the judge participates in the

management of such a legal or equitable interest, or the interest could be

substantially affected by the outcome of a proceeding before a judge, it does not

include:

(1) an interest in the individual holdings within a mutual or common

investment fund;

(2) an interest in securities held by an educational, religious, charitable,

fraternal, or civic organization in which the judge or the judge’s spouse,

domestic partner, parent, or child serves as a director, an officer, an advisor,

or other participant;

(3) a deposit in a financial institution or deposits or proprietary interests

the judge may maintain as a member of a mutual savings association or

credit union, or similar proprietary interests; or

(4) an interest in the issuer of government securities held by the judge.

See Rules 1.3, 2.11, and 3.2.

“Fiduciary” includes relationships such as executor, administrator, trustee,

or guardian. See Rules 2.11, 3.2, and 3.8.

“Impartial,” “impartiality,” and “impartially” mean absence of bias or

prejudice in favor of, or against, particular parties or classes of parties, as well

as maintenance of an open mind in considering issues that may come before a

judge. See Canons 1, 2, and 4, and Rules 1.2, 2.2, 2.10, 2.11, 2.13, 3.1, 3.12,

3.13, and 4.2.

“Impending matter”is a matter that is imminent or expected to occur in

the near future. See Rules 2.9, 2.10, 3.13, and 4.2.

“Impropriety” includes conduct that violates the law, court rules, or

provisions of this Code, and conduct that undermines a judge’s independence,

integrity, or impartiality. See Canon 1 and Rule 1.2.

“Independence” means a judge’s freedom from influence or controls other

than those established by law. See Canons 1 and 4, and Rules 1.2, 3.1, 3.12,

3.13, and 4.2.

“Integrity” means probity, fairness, honesty, uprightness, and soundness of

character. See Canons 1 and 4, and Rules 1.2, 3.1, 3.12, 3.13, and 4.2.

“Judicial candidate” means any person, including a sitting judge, who has

expressed interest in or is seeking selection for or retention in a judicial office.

A person becomes a judicial candidate when he or she submits an expression of

interest or applies for a judicial office, or, where the process does not require an

expression of interest or an application, when he or she engages in communications relating to his or her possible selection for a judicial office. See Rules

2.11, 4.1, and 4.2.

“Knowingly,” “knowledge,” “known” or “knows” and “know” mean

actual knowledge of the fact in question. A person’s knowledge may be inferred

from circumstances. See Rules 1.3, 2.11, 2.15, 2.16, 3.2, 3.6, and 4.2.

“Law” encompasses court rules as well as statutes, constitutional provisions, and decisional law. See Rules 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 2.7, 2.9, 3.1, 3.9, 3.12,

3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 4.1, and 4.4.

“Member of the judge’s family” means a spouse, domestic partner, child,

grandchild, parent, grandparent, or other relative or person with whom the

judge maintains a close familial relationship. See Rules 3.7, 3.8, 3.10, and 3.11.

“Member of the judge’s family residing in the judge’s household”

means any relative of a judge by blood or marriage, or a person treated by a

judge as a member of the judge’s family, who resides in the judge’s household.

See Rules 2.11 and 3.13.

“Nonjudicial candidate” means any person, including a sitting judge, who

is seeking selection for nonjudicial office by election or appointment. A person

becomes a candidate for nonjudicial office as soon as he or she makes a public

announcement of candidacy, declares or files as a candidate with the election or

appointment authority, authorizes or, where permitted, engages in solicitation

or acceptance of contributions or support, or is nominated for election or

appointment to office. See Rule 4.4.

“Nonpublic information” means information that is not available to the

public. Nonpublic information may include, but is not limited to, information

that is sealed by statute or court order or impounded or communicated in

camera, and information offered in grand jury proceedings, presentencing

reports, juvenile cases, psychiatric reports, or other confidential reports. See

Rule 3.5.

“Pending matter” is a matter that has commenced. A matter continues to

be pending through any appellate process until final disposition. See Rules 2.9,

2.10, 3.13, and 4.2.

“Political organization” means a political party or other group sponsored

by or affiliated with a political party or candidate, the principal purpose of

which is to further the election or appointment of candidates for political office.

See Rule 4.1.

“Third degree of relationship” includes the following persons: great-

grandparent, grandparent, parent, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, child, grandchild, great-grandchild, nephew, and niece. See Rule 2.11.