Eydie Trautwein, J.D.
Voice: 307.777.7629
FAX: 307.777.3447
Email: etrautwein@courts.state.wy.us
Wyoming Supreme Court
2301 Capitol Avenue
Cheyenne, WY
Data and CQI
Overview and History
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the Wyoming Supreme Court a court grant in July 1999. The purpose of the grant is to assess and improve the juvenile court system’s process involving Wyoming’s most vulnerable population—abused and neglected children. In October 1999, the Supreme Court appointed an advisory council consisting of judges, attorneys, a representative from the Department of Family Services, a foster care alumna, and other professionals involved in the child protection system.
Neglect Hearing Checklists
The following Neglect Hearing Checklists are intended to assist judges, county attorneys, guardians ad litem, parents’
attorneys and caseworkers comply with the letter and spirit of the Federal Adoption and Safe Families Act. A long and short version
of each checklist can be downloaded by clicking on the icon below. In order to provide resources that are useful to judges, attorneys
and caseworkers, please provide us your comments on how we can improve the checklists. We will continually assess the need to revise
the checklists based on comments received and any changes made to federal or state law.
Shelter Care / Initial Hearing
Adjudicatory
Court Forms
Disposition
Six-Month Review
Permanency
2017-2018 Schedule
April 12, 2018 – Wyoming IV-E Update and Overview Click Here for Broadcast March 8, 2018 – Parent Representation Overview Part 2 Click Here for Broadcast February 8, 2018 – Parent Representation Overview, Part 1 Click Here for Broadcast January 11, 2018 – Concurrent Planning and DFS Case Plans Click Here for Broadcast December 20, 2017 – Wyoming’s Kid Care CHIP (Special Edition) Click Here for Broadcast December 14, 2017 – Reasonable Efforts Click Here for Broadcast November 9, 2017 – Consent Decrees in Juvenile Court Proceedings Click Here for Broadcast October 12, 2017 – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) and Their Role in Wyoming Juvenile Court Click Here for BroadcastJuvenile Court Law Update (September, 2017)
Check out CJP’s most popular episodes from the 2016-2017 series below….
List of Designated Tribal Agents (for Notice of Service)
ICWA Presentation
ICWA Guidelines and Regulations
Archived BlogTalk Topics
- State and Federal Laws (including Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC))
- Timely, Thorough and Complete Court Hearings
- Permanency for Children and Youth
- High Quality Legal Representation for Parents, Children and DFS Family Engagement
- Physical, Social and Emotional Well-being for Children and Youth
- Miscellaneous
Upcoming Trainings
Prosecutor and Parent Attorney Specific Trainings:
May 18 – Cheyenne | June 8 – Torrington | July 13 – Douglas
July 27 – Riverton | August 10 – Sheridan | August 24 – Gillette
Scholarships
The Wyoming Children’s Justice Project (CJP) announces the availability of scholarships for district court judges and/or attorneys who prosecute or accept court appointments to represent children or parents in child abuse and neglect (non-criminal), child in need of supervision, and termination of parental rights cases. These scholarships are intended to encourage judges and attorneys to attend national conferences that focus upon child welfare, juvenile, and family law. The scholarships may cover registration fees and reimbursement of airfare, lodging, meals and other travel expenses. Attorneys approved for scholarships must contribute at least 25% of the conference expenses, and agree to share the information learned with other attorneys and/or others working or volunteering in the juvenile court system.
Juvenile Court Training Modules
Module 1: Overview of Juvenile Court
Module 2: Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
Module 3: Child In Need of Supervision(CHINS) Proceedings
Module 4: Delinquency Proceedings
Module 5: Multidisciplinary Team
Module 6: Confidentiality
Meeting Schedule
- March 16, 2018 – 10:00 a.m.
- May 18, 2018 – 10:00 a.m.
- September 14, 2018 – 10:00 a.m.
- December 14, 2018 – 10:00 a.m.
- March 15, 2019 – 10:00 a.m.
- May 17, 2019 – 10:00 a.m.
- September 13, 2019 – 10:00 a.m.
- December 13, 2019 – 10:00 a.m.
Order Appointing Council Members
Strategic Plan
Minutes
- 2017 September Minutes
- 2017 May Minutes
- 2017 March Minutes
- 2016 December Minutes
- 2016 August Minutes
- 2016 June Minutes
- 2016 March Minutes
- 2015 December Minutes
- 2015 August Minutes
- 2015 June Minutes
- 2015 March Minutes
- 2014 December Minutes
- 2014 August Minutes
- 2014 June Minutes
- 2014 March Minutes
- 2014 January Minutes
- 2013 October Minutes
| Name / Title | Capacity | City | Term Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hon. Catherine M. Fox, Chair Justice |
Wyoming Supreme Court | Cheyenne | 06/30/2021 |
| Kerri Bumgardner Uinta County District Court Clerk |
District Court Clerk | Evanston | 06/30/2018 |
| Sheryl Bunting Deputy County and Prosecuting Attorney, Sheridan County |
Prosecutor | Sheridan | 06/30/2020 |
| Affie Ellis Senator, District 08 |
Senator | Cheyenne | 06/30/2020 |
| Elizabeth Forslund CQI/CFSP/APSR/CFSR Lead |
Wyoming Department of Family Services | Cheyenne | 06/30/2019 |
| Edwin Heimer Agency Administrator |
Wyoming Department of Family Services | Cody | 06/30/2020 |
| Michelle Heinen UPLIFT, Parent Advocate |
Parent Advocate | Cheyenne | 06/30/2018 |
| Hon. Nena R. James District Court Judge, 3rd Judicial District |
District Court Judge | Green River | 06/30/2019 |
| Jill Kucera Senior Assistant Attorney General |
Attorney General or designee | Cheyenne | 06/30/2019 |
| Ayana Lopez Youth Advocate |
Youth Advocate | Cheyenne | 06/30/2020 |
| Jennifer Neely Training and ICWA Lead |
Wyoming Department of Family Services | Cheyenne | 06/30/2019 |
| Marty Nelson Agency Administrator |
Wyoming Department of Family Services | Cheyenne | 06/30/2019 |
| Tara Nethercott Senator, District 04 |
Senator | Cheyenne | 06/30/2020 |
| Ryan Roden Deputy State Public Defender |
Wyoming State Public Defender or designee | Cheyenne | 06/30/2018 |
| Hon. Thomas W. Rumpke District Court Judge |
District Court Judge | Gillette | 06/30/2019 |
| Terri V. Smith Attorney |
Tribal Representative (enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe) | Lander | 06/30/2018 |
| Hon. Dawnessa Snyder District Court Judge |
District Court Judge | Rawlins | 06/30/2020 |
| Carol Tullio CASA of Laramie County |
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) | Cheyenne | 06/30/2018 |
| Stephen Weichman Teton County & Prosecuting Attorney |
WY County Prosecuting Attorneys’ Association | Jackson | 06/30/2018 |
| Dan Wilde Director, GAL Program |
Guardians ad Litem | Cheyenne | 06/30/2019 |
| Hon. Norman E. Young District Court Judge, 9th Judicial District |
District Court Judge | Lander | 06/30/2020 |
| Lily Sharpe State Court Administrator, Ex-Officio Member |
Supreme Court Administrator | Cheyenne | 06/30/2020 |
| Korin Schmidt Deputy Director, Ex-Officio Member |
Wyoming Department of Family Services | Cheyenne | 6/30/2020 |
| Jennifer Davis Ex-Officio Member |
Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund | Cheyenne | 6/30/2021 |
Children’s Justice Project – The Golden Award
In 2008, the Wyoming Supreme Court Children’s Justice Project established the Excellence Award to recognize an individual involved in the child welfare system who has made significant contributions to the system and is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families. The award is presented each year at the Children’s Justice Conference. Nominations for the award are solicited statewide. The Award Selection Committee is comprised of past award recipients. In 2014, the Excellence Award was renamed after Justice Michael Golden (the 2014 Excellence Award recipient) and is now referred to as the Justice Michael Golden Award or the “Golden Award”.
Past Awardees:
- 2017 Sandra S. Kitchen
- 2016 John M. Burman
- 2015 Judge Steven Cranfill
- 2014 Justice Michael Golden
- 2012 Brenden McKinney
- 2011 Jean Day
- 2010 Rick Robb
- 2009 Stacey Obrecht
- 2008 Dan Wilde
