Keith G. Kautz

Keith G. Kautz (born 1953) is an American lawyer and judge, who is an associate justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court.[1] He previously served as a Wyoming District Court judge from 1993 to 2015.[1]

Keith G. Kautz
Associate Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court
Incumbent
Assumed office August 4, 2015
Appointed by	Matt Mead
Preceded by	Marilyn S. Kite
Personal details
Born	1953 (age 67–68) Lyman, Nebraska, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Wyoming University of Wyoming College of Law

Education and early career

Kautz grew up on farms near Lyman, Nebraska, and Huntley, Wyoming, and graduated from Torrington High School in Torrington, Wyoming.[2] He completed a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Wyoming in 1975, and a law degree at University of Wyoming College of Law in 1978.[1][3]

Kautz was in private practice in Wyoming from 1978 to 1993. He was an associate attorney with the law firm Sawyer & Warren, and then a partner in the firm Sawyer, Warren & Kautz, in Torrington.[4][3]

The Governor of Wyoming Mike Sullivan appointed Kautz as a state judge in 1993, serving on the Wyoming District Courts for the Eighth District, which covers four counties: Converse, Goshen, Niobrara, and Platte.[1] Kautz was retained by voters in 1994, 2000, 2006, and 2012.[5][6][7] Kautz's father-in-law John Callahan, and grandfather-in-law, also served as Wyoming district court judges.[2]

Supreme Court

In 2012, Michael Golden retired from the Wyoming Supreme Court, and the Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission put forward Kautz as one of three possible replacements.[8] However, the Governor of Wyoming Matt Mead did not choose Kautz, appointing Michael K. Davis instead.[9]

In March 2015, Wyoming Supreme Court justice Marilyn S. Kite announced that she would retire on August 3.[10] The Wyoming Judicial Nominating Commission again selected Kautz as one of the possible candidates for the Supreme Court, along with attorney Robert W. Tiedeken and Tom Lubnau, the former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives.[11] Governor Mead announced Kautz as his choice to replace Kite on June 5, 2015.[4]

Kautz was sworn in as a justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court on August 4, 2015.[1] He won a retention election to complete the rest of Kite's term in November 2016, winning 77% of the vote.[12] His current term on the court expires on January 6, 2019, and he is eligible to run for re-election to a new eight-year term in November 2018.[13]

References

1. "Justice Keith G. Kautz". Wyoming Judicial Branch. State of Wyoming. 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
2. Hansen, Sandra (June 13, 2015). "Torrington judge looking forward to serving on Wyoming Supreme Court". Scottbluff StarHerald. Scottsbluff, NE. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
3. Wyoming State Archives biography of Keith G. Kautz, available at 2301 Central Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001.
4. "Gov. Matt Mead appoints District Judge Keith Kautz to Wyoming Supreme Court". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, WY. June 5, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
5. Meyer, Joseph (2000). "Statewide Issues and Candidates Abstract -- General Election -- November 7, 2000" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming. State of Wyoming. p. 7. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
6. Meyer, Joseph (2006). "Statewide Retention Positions Official Summary Wyoming General Election–November 7, 2006" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming. State of Wyoming. p. 5. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
7. Maxfield, Max (2012). "Statewide Retention Positions Official Summary Wyoming General Election–November 6, 2012" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming. State of Wyoming. p. 5. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
8. "Judge looks forward to challenge of high court". Billings Gazette. Billings, MT. September 15, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
9. "Justice Michael K. Davis". Wyoming Judicial Branch. State of Wyoming. 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
10. "Justice Marilyn S. Kite to retire this summer from the Wyoming Supreme Court". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, WY. March 11, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
11. "Three nominees submitted to Mead for Wyoming Supreme Court". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, WY. May 12, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
12. Murray, Ed (2016). "Statewide Judicial Retentions Official Summary" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming. State of Wyoming. p. 2. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
13. "About the Supreme Court". Wyoming Judicial Branch. State of Wyoming. 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.