Introduction
The Center for Public Integrity evaluated the disclosure rules for judges in the highest state courts nationwide. The level of disclosure in the 50 states and the District of Columbia was poor, with 43 receiving failing grades, making it difficult for the public to identify potential conflicts of interest on the bench. Despite the lack of information in the public records, the Center’s investigation found nearly three dozen conflicts, questionable gifts and entanglements among top judges around the country. Here’s what the Center found in Wyoming:
Strengths:
Wyoming earned a perfect score in the accountability category because the state constitution calls for creating a special court made of up of district judges to rule on any investigations involving Supreme Court justices.
Weaknesses:
Wyoming’s Code of Judicial Conduct includes no provisions covering disclosure of investments or liabilities, costing the state 40 points in those two categories combined. Wyoming also lost points because the state does not require judges to report information about gifts or reimbursements received by their family members.
Highlights:
Wyoming became the eighth state to make its financial disclosure forms available online after the Center asked about them.
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