Wyoming’s governor has chosen a former state lawmaker to fill a soon-vacant judge’s seat in Sweetwater County.
That leaves former state Rep. Clark Stith, a Republican of Rock Springs, “shopping around” for lawyers to serve his clients in two high-profile Wyoming cases involving major Republican Party players.
Stith is slated to become Sweetwater County District Court judge starting April 18, as the current Judge Richard Lavery reaches the maximum age of service, 70, and retires.
As for Stith, he could have just five years on the bench under that same rule. He turns 65 in May.
In a Thursday interview with Cowboy State Daily, Stith thanked both the Judicial Nominating Commission, which chose three nominees for the spot, and Gov. Mark Gordon, who appointed him.
“I’m honored and privileged he’d select me,” said Stith. “He had a difficult choice.”
The other nominees were Jason Petri and Jessica French.
Stith, an attorney of 35 years who has worked in civil, defense and administrative realms, leaves behind two high-profile cases that may not be resolved when he ascends to the bench.
One is the case of Martinez v. Wyoming State Republican Party — a case of Hot Springs County GOP members who say the state party wrongly ousted them from county party leadership positions.
The other is the case of Wylie v. WY Freedom PAC — a case in which two Republican lawmakers are suing the campaign arm of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, alleging the PAC defamed them with dishonest campaign mailers.
Reps. Cody Wylie, R-Rock Springs, and J.T. Larson, R-Rock Springs, sued the WY Freedom PAC in 2024 over what they say are misleading political mailers and text messages the Freedom Caucus political action committee distributed against them in that campaign cycle.
The mailers claimed they tried to remove President Donald Trump from the ballot, when in fact, they'd voted to block state money from going to the Secretary of State's office for out-of-state legal fights.
The Secretary of State had filed an argument backing Trump in a Colorado case regarding Trump's eligibility for office.
Stith took both cases on pro bono, he said, noting that he’s been logging his hours in both cases, but hasn’t billed either set of clients.
As of Thursday, Stith said he was unsure who would fill his roles in those cases.
The Wylie case is set for trial in June.
Attorneys in the Martinez case have summary judgment arguments due later this month.
No More Politicking
Stith voiced optimism for “this next chapter of my career,” saying he knows there will be a learning curve, but he hopes to adjust quickly.
He said he believes a judge’s role is to interpret the law and apply it regardless of sentiment. He praised the current district court judges in Sweetwater County and said he’s not bringing an agenda to the job. He also voiced a desire to work quickly, saying “justice delayed is justice denied.”
Stith said he’s ready to set aside a career marked with strong political feeling and debate.
“(This) takes me out of the political arena. That’s bittersweet because I enjoy public discourse about issues of public concern,” he said. Still, he added, he’s “absolutely” ready to leave the political world.
Stith was a state House of Representatives member for seven years, rising to the rank of House Speaker Pro Tempore in 2023.
He brought repeat legislation to bolster parental rights, ultimately succeeding in 2024. He successfully advanced a ban on bestiality in 2021. Also, that year, he unsuccessfully attempted to repeal the sales and use tax exemptions that data centers enjoy in Wyoming.
Stith was also a frequent donor to political campaigns from 2010 to September 2025.
His earliest donation was to the 2010 campaign of now-former Gov. Matt Mead.
He’s given prolifically to county GOP parties, to past and current Republican legislators, the state Auditor campaign of Nathan Winters.
He’s given a total of $2,000 to Gordon’s two gubernatorial campaigns.
Stith said those past donations are separate from his merit for the bench, as an attorney of 35 years.
“That’s the beauty of the Judicial Nominating Commission,” said Stith. “Because it acts as an independent body that selects from among all the candidates to find the three qualified people.”
“Frankly I just think Governor Gordon did what he could to select the person who, in his opinion, would be best for the job,” Stith added.
Dodging Dad
Stith’s son prosecutes crimes in the same county Stith’s slated to adjudicate.
“Well, the good news is, Green River has two district court judges,” said Stith on how he’ll avoid working in court with his son, Sweetwater County Deputy Attorney Stephen Anselmi-Stith.
“Stephen and I already have this issue when I represent a criminal defendant here locally,” said Clark Stith. He said as it is now, the son recuses himself where necessary and a different prosecutor handles the case.
Gov’s Word
Gordon in a Wednesday-evening statement on Stith’s appointment said Stith has “the energy and sound legal reasoning that bodes well” for providing timely, fair, and impartial resolution of legal disputes.
Stith graduated from Atchison High School in Atchison, Kansas and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, the statement notes. He went on to be a Fulbright Scholar and received his law degree in 1991 from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
He now practices law as a solo practitioner on cases in civil litigation, bankruptcy, misdemeanor criminal matters, corporate law and estate planning at Stith Law Offices in Rock Springs.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
