Laramie County’s district attorney has been given more time to respond to allegations she violated the rules governing the actions of attorneys.
Leigh Anne Manlove has been given until July 20 to respond to the formal charge filed against her with the Wyoming Board of Professional Responsibility, the Wyoming Bar Association told Cowboy State Daily.
Manlove is accused of violating several of the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. Among other things, Manlove was accused of exaggerating budget pressures facing her office to justify the dismissal of almost 1,000 cases in circuit and district court in Laramie County and misrepresenting the facts surrounding the case of a man accused of killing two people five days after being released from police custody on misdemeanor charges.
Manlove on June 17 said she was confident she would be cleared of the allegations.
“This process will unfold as it must, according to the Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, and I am confident I will be exonerated,” she said.
The charge filed with the BPR on June 11 recommended that Manlove be the subject of a disciplinary hearing before the BPR.
The BPR’s recommendations stemming from that hearing will be forwarded to the Wyoming Supreme Court for action.
Manlove was initially given 20 days to respond to the charge, which would have put the deadline at July 9.
Manlove said in her June 17 statement she was looking forward to presenting her side of the issue.
“Now that this matter is public and I am permitted to speak about it, I welcome the opportunity to ensure that the people of Laramie County who elected me get to hear all of the facts,” her release said. “I will be filing a formal response so that the public has the benefit of hearing both sides of the story.”
