Section 7 - Disciplinary Judge (a) The Court may appoint, upon the advice of the BPR, a pool of up to five members of the Wyoming State Bar to act as Disciplinary Judges. Disciplinary Judges shall meet the qualifications of state district court judges. (b) Upon a written request of Bar Counsel or the Respondent setting forth the reasons for the request, a Disciplinary Judge may be assigned in a proceeding by the BPR Chair, and shall have the following powers and duties: (1) To issue and enforce subpoenas; (2) To administer oaths and affirmations; (3) To conduct a scheduling conference if requested by a party, and to enter a scheduling order following the conference; (4) To conduct pre-hearing conferences and establish pre-hearing procedures in cases which involve formal charges of misconduct, petitions for reinstatement, or petitions for transfer to and from disability inactive status; (5) To rule upon nondispositive pre-hearing motions; (6) To preside at hearings and to rule on evidentiary matters as requested; and (7) To compel obedience to rulings, orders, and subpoenas, including the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the provisions of Rule 37, W.R.Civ.P. (c) A Disciplinary Judge shall refrain from taking part in any proceeding in which the recusal of a judge, similarly situated, would be required. No attorney in the law firm of a member of a Disciplinary Judge may accept or continue in employment connected with any matter pending before the Disciplinary Judge. (d) A Disciplinary Judge shall not represent an attorney in any matter arising under these rules while appointed to the pool of Disciplinary Judges. (e) Rulings by a Disciplinary Judge shall be deemed to constitute rulings of the BPR. (f) Disciplinary Judges shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel, meals, lodging and other expenses incurred in the course of their official duties. Wyo. R. State Bar, Att'y Cond. & Prac. 7
Adopted April 6, 2015, effective July 1, 2015.