Wyoming’s Specialized Business Court
On March 15, 2019, Governor Gordon signed into law an act of the 2019 Wyoming legislature creating a Chancery Court, whose purpose is to provide a forum for streamlined resolution of commercial, business, and trust cases. The act establishes a court with jurisdiction to decide actions seeking declaratory or injunctive relief and actions seeking money recovery over $50,000 that arise from claims including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, derivative actions, the Uniform Commercial Code, and the Uniform Trust Code. The Wyoming Supreme Court adopted final rules for the Chancery Court on September 21, 2021.
To familiarize practitioners and the public with Wyoming’s newest court, a high-level overview follows below in question-and-answer format.
What is the Wyoming Chancery Court?
The court resolves business and trust cases on an expedited schedule with bench trials and limited motions practice. Section 5-13-115(b) lists the types of matters under the Chancery Court’s jurisdiction.
How do Filings Occur?
The Chancery Court uses a mandatory electronic filing system. Training information, general information, and resources regarding the electronic filing system are available here: https://www.fileandservexpress.com/wyoming-resources/.
What are the Rules?
Modified versions of the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure and Uniform Rules for District Courts govern Chancery Court proceedings. Currently, eFiling is governed by the Wyoming State Chancery Court eFiling Adminstrive Policies and Procedure Manual, which is substantially similar to the eFiling rules applicable in district courts. However, effective April 5, 2025, both Chancery and District Court eFiling will be governed by the Wyoming Rules for Electronic Filing and Service.
Where is the Chancery Court Located?
The Chancery Court has a dedicated, state-of-the-art courtroom in the Thyra Thomson State Office Building in Casper, Wyoming. While the Casper courtroom serves as its primary hub, the court operates statewide and accommodates litigants across Wyoming. To reduce costs and enhance accessibility, proceedings are often held remotely. When necessary, in-person hearings may take place in the Casper courtroom or other available courtrooms statewide, depending on the convenience of the parties, counsel, litigants, and the court.
Who is the Chancery Court Judge?
Ben Burningham became Wyoming’s first full-time Chancery Court judge on January 1, 2025. Experienced in complex civil litigation, his past work spans pharmaceuticals, securities, multidistrict litigation, antitrust, unfair trade practices, and transactional matters. He previously served as Chief Legal Officer for the Wyoming Judicial Branch and Director of the Wyoming Chancery Court, where he helped establish and operate the court. Before that, he led the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Unit at the Wyoming Attorney General’s
Office. Before his service to Wyoming, he worked on multi-billion-dollar securities litigation for the D.C.-based law firm, Kellogg Hansen.
Judge Burningham earned a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Virginia University, where he captained the football team, and a Juris Doctor from George Washington University, graduating with honors and serving as managing editor of The George Washington International Law Review.
He has written for the ABA on consumer protection and business law and currently co-edits an annual ABA publication on business courts. Judge Burningham is committed to fulfilling the Chancery Court’s promise of delivering focused, fast, and fair resolutions for business and trust disputes.