A judge in Casper declined Wednesday to dismiss the criminal case accusing the Weston County clerk of defying a legislative subpoena, her attorney says.
Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock was charged in October with the misdemeanor of defying a legislative subpoena, after lawmakers formed a Management Audit subcommittee to investigate her handling of the 2024 general election in her county — and she did not appear to testify.
Uncontested races in Weston County’s 2024 general election revealed misplaced votes.
Amid a canvassing board recount, it was eventually determined that Hadlock had mistakenly used ballots that had been printed out but shouldn’t have been used in the voting machines because of previously identified errors on them.
Hadlock’s attorney Ryan Semerad argued on Dec. 15 that the subpoena exceeded the lawmakers’ authority, was improperly executed and sought to violate her rights, such as her right against incriminating herself.
Semerad asserted that the lawmakers investigating Hadlock were the ones who broke the law.
Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen argued back Jan. 8, saying lawmakers didn’t break the law and the subpoena was properly issued.
Casper Circuit Court Judge Kevin Taheri on Wednesday dismissed Semerad’s motion, keeping the case against Hadlock alive, according to Semerad’s recounting of the hearing.
Semerad told Cowboy State Daily in a phone interview after the hearing that he would file a mid-case appeal to the higher, Natrona County District Court, “just as soon as I get done walking my dog.”
According to Semerad’s account of Taheri’s ruling from the bench, questions about how intentional Hadlock was in allegedly defying the subpoena remain for a jury to address.
She pleaded not guilty in November.
Itzen confirmed Semerad's version of events to Cowboy State Daily, and declined to comment on the pending case.
Itzen’s Chief Deputy District Attorney Blaine Nelson argued the state’s position in court Wednesday, Semerad noted.
Meanwhile …
Meanwhile, a slate of electors in Weston County have filed two batches of complaints to Gov. Mark Gordon, asking him to recommend Hadlock be removed from office.
The first slate of complaints, filed shortly after the 2024 election, did not lead Gordon to recommend Hadlock’s removal. He emphasized a lack of misconduct or malfeasance, cast her handling of the election as sloppy rather than malicious, and touted the value of local electoral control in Wyoming.
The second slate of complaints, filed last autumn, led Gordon to a different result.
That batch included claims that Hadlock filed a false or fraudulent post-election audit report to the Secretary of State’s office.
Gordon recommended Hadlock for removal, he announced Jan. 7.
That sent the decision of whether to wage a civil removal case against her to Gordon’s appointed Attorney General Keith Kautz.
Kautz told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday that his office is still investigating and organizing that case.
“We have a team investigating and preparing, and that’s where we are,” said Kautz.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
