Committee for the Opposition of Retention
of District Judge Terry Rogers

By Ed Bushnell
Jackson Hole Guide

Two attorneys who practice in the 9th District Court of Wyoming have started a campaign to oppose the retention of 9th District Judge Terry Rogers. Jackson attorney Rob Williams and Riverton attorney Donald Rissler are cochairmen of the Committee for the Opposition to Retention of District Judge D. Terry Rogers, according to Rissler. “Rob and I feel Judge Rogers does not have the proper temperament,” Rissler said, explaining why he would like to see Rogers off the bench. “He’s never done me wrong, personally.” Rissler said Rogers has been “harsh” on some of his clients, particularly pertaining to domestic relationship cases, such as divorce court. “He’s humiliated them unnecessarily,” Rissler said. “Divorce court is difficult enough already.”

Williams is on vacation this week and was unavailable for comment.

Six years ago, a separate group of citizens opposed Rogers. In recent years, area lawyers also complained to a state judicial review committee about the judge. Rogers said he doesn’t know why the attorneys are opposing his retention in 2002. He said he can’t personally recall any divorce cases he’s tried with Rissler as an attorney. Rogers said he tries hard to be a good judge. However, he said, a judge decides who wins and who loses, and it’s inevitable that there will be anger directed toward a judge on occasion. “I try my best to be fair,” he said Tuesday. “You can’t please everybody; you’d go crazy if you tried.”

Teton County and Prosecuting Attorney Steve Weichman said Rogers is an excellent judge, and not retaining him would be a serious mistake. “Anybody who thinks we can go out and trade Judge Rogers for a better judge is dreaming,” he said. “I think he’s one of the finest judges I’ve ever had the privilege of practicing in front of.” Weichman called the position of district judge a “very lonely job.” “The gravity of the disputes he’s called upon to resolve and the extraordinary impact of his decisions on the litigants create a pressure that few people who have never sat on a bench can understand,” Weichman said. Rissler said he respects Rogers, but he would rather see someone else in his position. “Any judge deserves respect,” Rissler said. “I respect the office highly.”

However, Rissler said, he believes all judges should be elected rather than appointed. Rissler said voting to not retain a judge is the closest option to electing a judge. “Unelecting a judge is a diminished check and balance,” Rissler said. “Nobody likes a negative campaign, but that’s what you’re left with.” The Committee for the Opposition to Retention of District Judge D. Terry Rogers ran an ad in the Jackson Hole Guide last week, urging voters not to retain Rogers. Rissler said he has received “several” phone calls of support. According to Rogers, there will be a question on the ballot during the Nov. 5 election asking if he should be retained. District court judges appear on the ballot for retention every six years, according to Weichman. Rogers said he has served as district court judge for 13 years, and hopes to serve one more six-year term. Rogers served as the Teton County attorney for more than 14 years before he became a district court judge.


Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.


--- Mark Twain
 

top