HB0176 - Circuit court magistrates-reorganization.

 

2001

State of Wyoming

01LSO-0297.E1

ENGROSSED

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO.  HB0176

 

 

Circuit court magistrates-reorganization.

 

Sponsored by:

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

 1  AN ACT relating to circuit court magistrates; revising the
 2  method of selection and retention of circuit court
 3  magistrates as specified; revising the powers of circuit
 4  court magistrates as specified; and providing for an
 5  effective date.

 6 

 7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

 8 

 9         Section 1.  W.S. 5-9-201 through 5-9-210 are repealed
10  and recreated as 5-9-201 through 5-9-213 to read:

11 

12                         ARTICLE 2

13              MAGISTRATES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

14 

15              [Provisions common to all magistrates]

16 

17         5-9-201.  Qualifications for magistrates.

 

Page  1

 

 

 

 1 

 2  A magistrate of the circuit court shall be a qualified
 3  elector and a resident of the county for which appointed.

 4 

 5         5-9-202.  Circuit court to enter order appointing
 6  magistrates.

 7 

 8  The circuit court in open court shall enter an order
 9  appointing each full-time magistrate of the circuit court
10  under W.S. 5-9-206and each part-time magistrate of the
11  circuit court under W.S. 5-9-210 and shall enter the order
12  upon the journal. A certified copy of the journal entry
13  shall be evidence of the appointment in all courts of this
14  state.

15 

16         5-9-203.  Oath.

17 

18  Magistrates of the circuit court, before entering upon the
19  discharge of their official duties, shall take and
20  subscribe before a circuit court judge or a clerk of a
21  court of record the oath of office prescribed by the
22  constitution of Wyoming.

23 

24         5-9-204.  Record of official actions.

 

Page  2

 

 

 

 1 

 2  Each magistrate of the circuit court shall enter a record
 3  of his official actions in a journal in the circuit court.
 4  The entries shall be signed by the magistrate.

 5 

 6         5-9-205.  Bond.

 7 

 8  Each magistrate of the circuit court shall be bonded in the
 9  sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for his faithful
10  performance of duties while in office. The bond shall be
11  made payable to the state of Wyoming and shall be filed
12  with the clerk of the district court.

13 

14                   [Type A magistrates]

15 

16         5-9-206.  Full-time magistrates; selection.

17 

18         (a)  In every county receiving the services of a
19  circuit court and wherein a circuit court judge does not
20  reside, there shall be one (1) full-time magistrate who
21  shall meet the qualifications under W.S. 5-9-201.

22 

23         (b)  All of the circuit judges whose circuit includes
24  the county together shall agree upon a person to fill the

Page  3

 

 

 

 1  office of magistrate under subsection (a) of this section.
 2  The name of the agreed upon person shall be submitted for
 3  approval or rejection to the board of county commissioners
 4  of the county wherein the magistrate will serve. Upon
 5  approval by the board, the circuit court shall appoint the
 6  person as a magistrate as provided in W.S. 5-9-202.

 7 

 8         5-9-207.  Full-time magistrates; term of office;
 9  retention; removal.

10 

11         (a)  The term of office of each magistrate selected
12  under W.S. 5-9-206 and appointed under W.S. 5-9-202 shall
13  be four (4) years. The magistrate shall serve for one (1)
14  year after that person's appointment and until the first
15  Monday in January following the next general election after
16  the expiration of that year.

17 

18         (b)  At the general election, the magistrate shall
19  stand for retention in office in the county wherein the
20  magistrate was appointed. Irrespective of any vote of the
21  electorate whereby the magistrate is retained in office,
22  the circuit judges of the circuit by unanimous vote may
23  remove the magistrate.

24 

 

Page  4

 

 

 

 1         5-9-208.  Full-time magistrates; powers of magistrates
 2  who are authorized to practice law; powers of magistrates
 3  who are not authorized to practice law.

 4 

 5         (a)  At the direction of the circuit judges of a
 6  circuit or the supreme court, a full-time magistrate of the
 7  circuit court who is authorized to practice law in Wyoming
 8  may perform all of the duties of a circuit court judge
 9  presiding in circuit court as authorized by law and rules.
10  Upon direction, the magistrate shall have all of the powers
11  of a circuit court judge presiding in circuit court as
12  authorized by law and rules. A magistrate shall not preside
13  in or hear or decide any district court proceeding or case
14  in circuit court pursuant to assignment under W.S. 5-3-112.

15 

16         (b)  Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section
17  and upon request and consent of all parties to a proceeding
18  or case in circuit court and subject to the approval of the
19  circuit judge presiding in the proceeding or case, a
20  full-time magistrate who is authorized to practice law in
21  Wyoming may hear and determine any and all matters relating
22  to the proceeding or case that are within the jurisdiction
23  of the circuit court, except the magistrate shall not
24  preside in or hear or decide any district court proceeding

Page  5

 

 

 

 1  or case in circuit court pursuant to assignment under W.S.
 2  5-3-112.

 3 

 4         (c)  At the direction of the circuit court judges of a
 5  circuit court, a full-time magistrate of the circuit court
 6  who is not authorized to practice law in Wyoming may within
 7  the county from which appointed:

 8 

 9              (i)  Administer an oath or affirmation authorized
10  or required by law to be administered;

11 

12              (ii)  Take acknowledgment of deeds, mortgages and
13  other instruments in writing;

14 

15              (iii)  Perform marriage ceremonies;

16 

17              (iv)  Issue subpoenas for witnesses, and coerce
18  their attendance in causes or matters pending before them,
19  or other cause or matter wherein they may be required to
20  take depositions;

21 

22              (v)  Try the action for forcible entry and
23  detention, or detention only, of real property;

24 

 

Page  6

 

 

 

 1              (vi)  Proceed against sureties for costs and
 2  amount of bail, on the stay of execution on their dockets;

 3 

 4              (vii)  Issue attachments and garnishments, and
 5  proceed against the goods and effects of debtors in certain
 6  cases, as provided by law;

 7 

 8              (viii)  Issue executions on judgments rendered by
 9  them;

10 

11              (ix)  Try the right of the claimant to property
12  taken in execution or on attachment;

13 

14              (x)  Try all civil actions where the amount in
15  controversy, exclusive of costs, does not exceed three
16  thousand dollars ($3,000.00);

17 

18              (xi)  Try an action upon bonds, conditioned for
19  the payment of money, where the amount claimed does not
20  exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00), though the penalty
21  exceeds that sum, the judgment to be given for the sum
22  actually due;

23 

 

Page  7

 

 

 

 1              (xii)  Hear and determine an action brought upon
 2  any instrument payable in installments, as each installment
 3  becomes due, when such instrument and amounts shall be
 4  within the magistrate's jurisdiction;

 5 

 6              (xiii)  Enter judgment on the confession of a
 7  defendant, when the amount does not exceed the magistrate's
 8  jurisdiction;

 9 

10              (xiv)  Try an action for disposition of an
11  abandoned vehicle as provided by W.S. 31-13-112(e),
12  regardless of the value of the abandoned vehicle;

13 

14              (xv)  Issue warrants or summonses in criminal
15  cases in accordance with the rules promulgated by the
16  Wyoming supreme court. A warrant or summons issued by the
17  magistrate charging any crime may be executed or served at
18  any place within the state;

19 

20              (xvi)  Set bail in criminal proceedings,
21  including bail for witnesses, in accordance with the
22  provisions of W.S. 5-9-132(a) and the rules promulgated by
23  the Wyoming supreme court;

24 

 

Page  8

 

 

 

 1              (xvii)  In accordance with the Wyoming Rules of
 2  Criminal Procedure, conduct preliminary examinations for
 3  persons charged with felonies or with misdemeanors;

 4 

 5              (xviii)  Try criminal cases amounting to
 6  misdemeanors for which the punishment prescribed by law
 7  does not exceed imprisonment for more than six (6) months
 8  or a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars
 9  ($750.00), or both, and criminal cases in which the
10  defendant is placed on probation for a period exceeding the
11  maximum six (6) months imprisonment sentence under W.S.
12  31-5-233(e);

13 

14              (xix)  Correct an illegal sentence imposed in a
15  criminal case or reduce a sentence at any time; and

16 

17              (xx)  Preserve and enforce order in his immediate
18  presence and in the proceedings before him.

19 

20         5-9-209.  Full-time magistrates; salary.

21 

22  A full-time magistrate of the circuit court shall receive
23  an annual salary and benefits as determined by the

Page  9

 

 

 

 1  legislature. The salary and benefits shall be paid by the
 2  state in equal monthly allotments.

 3 

 4                   [Type B magistrates]

 5 

 6         5-9-210.  Part-time magistrates; selection.

 7 

 8         (a)  In a county receiving the services of a circuit
 9  court and whether or not a circuit court judge resides in
10  the county, there may be one (1) or more part-time
11  magistrates each of whom shall meet the qualifications
12  under W.S. 5-9-201 and each shall be appointed as provided
13  in subsection (b) of this section.

14 

15         (b)  If a circuit court judge finds the public
16  interest requires a magistrate for any county within that
17  judge's circuit irrespective of where the circuit court
18  judge resides, then the circuit judge shall submit the name
19  of the person for approval or rejection to the board of
20  county commissioners of the county wherein the magistrate
21  will serve. Upon approval by the board, the circuit court
22  shall appoint the part-time magistrate as provided in W.S
23  5-9-202.

24 

 

Page 10

 

 

 

 1         5-9-211.  Part-time magistrates; tenure.

 2 

 3  Each part-time magistrate appointed under W.S. 5-9-202
 4  shall serve continuously and solely at the pleasure of the
 5  appointing circuit court judge.

 6 

 7         5-9-212.  Part-time magistrates; powers.

 8 

 9         (a)  At the direction of the circuit judges of a
10  circuit or the supreme court, a part-time magistrate of the
11  circuit court shall have the powers in respect to every
12  suit or proceeding pending in the circuit court of the
13  county for which he was appointed as follows:

14 

15              (i)  Administer an oath or affirmation authorized
16  or required by law to be administered;

17 

18              (ii)  Take acknowledgment of deeds, mortgages and
19  other instruments in writing;

20 

21              (iii)  Perform marriage ceremonies;

22 

23              (iv)  Issue subpoenas for witnesses, and coerce
24  their attendance in causes or matters pending before them,

Page 11

 

 

 

 1  or other cause or matter wherein they may be required to
 2  take depositions;

 3 

 4              (v)  Try the action for forcible entry and
 5  detention, or detention only, of real property;

 6 

 7              (vi)  Proceed against sureties for costs and
 8  amount of bail, on the stay of execution on their dockets;

 9 

10              (vii)  Enter judgment on the confession of a
11  defendant, when the amount does not exceed the circuit
12  court's jurisdiction;

13 

14              (viii)  Try an action for disposition of an
15  abandoned vehicle as provided by W.S. 31-13-112(e),
16  regardless of the value of the abandoned vehicle;

17 

18              (ix)  Issue warrants, including search warrants
19  and arrest warrants, or summonses in criminal cases in
20  accordance with the rules promulgated by the Wyoming
21  supreme court. A warrant or summons issued by the
22  magistrate charging any crime may be executed or served at
23  any place within the state;

24 

 

Page 12

 

 

 

 1              (x)  Set bail in criminal proceedings, including
 2  bail for witnesses, in accordance with the provisions of
 3  W.S. 5-9-132(a) and the rules promulgated by the Wyoming
 4  supreme court;

 5 

 6              (xi)  In accordance with the Wyoming Rules of
 7  Criminal Procedure, conduct preliminary examinations for
 8  persons charged with felonies or with misdemeanors;

 9 

10              (xii)  Preserve and enforce order in his
11  immediate presence and in the proceedings before him;

12 

13              (xiii)  Hear and issue orders in domestic
14  violence cases under W.S. title 35, chapter 21.

15 

16         (b)  Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section
17  and upon request and consent of all parties to a proceeding
18  or case in circuit court and subject to the approval of the
19  circuit judge presiding in the proceeding or case, a
20  part-time magistrate who is authorized to practice law in
21  Wyoming may hear and determine any and all matters relating
22  to the proceeding or case that are within the jurisdiction
23  of the circuit court, except the magistrate shall not
24  preside in or hear or decide any district court proceeding

Page 13

 

 

 

 1  or case in circuit court pursuant to assignment under W.S.
 2  5-3-112.

 3 

 4         5-9-213  Part-time magistrates; pay.

 5 

 6  A part-time magistrate of the circuit court shall be paid
 7  by the state. A claim for compensation under this section
 8  shall be made by voucher, verified under oath, setting
 9  forth in detail the services performed, time expended and
10  amount of compensation claimed. No claim for compensation
11  under this section shall be paid unless approved and
12  allowed by a judge of the circuit court.

13 

14         Section 2.  W.S. 7-7-101(a)(intro) and 8-2-101(a)(i)
15  are amended to read:

16 

17         7-7-101.  Authority to issue; grounds.

18 

19         (a)  Any district judge, district court commissioner,
20  circuit judge, magistrate authorized pursuant to W.S.
21  5-9-206 5-9-208(a), (b) or (c)(xv) or 5-9-207(a)(xv) or
22  (b)(vii)(C) 5-9-212(a)(ix) or any justice of the peace may
23  issue a search warrant to search for and seize any
24  property:

 

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 1 

 2         8-2-101.  Distribution of statutes, supplements and
 3  session laws.

 4 

 5         (a)  Statutes, supplements and session laws shall be
 6  distributed as provided by contract with the publisher or
 7  as directed by the management council, to the following,
 8  without charge:

 9 

10              (i)  Nine (9) copies to the county clerk of each
11  county in Wyoming, for use in the county offices and the
12  district court, plus one (1) additional copy for each
13  justice of the peace, magistrate serving pursuant to W.S.
14  5-9-201(a) 5-9-206 and circuit judge in each county;

15 

16         Section 3.  This act shall apply to all magistrates
17  serving on the effective date of this act.

18 

19         Section 4.  This act is effective immediately upon
20  completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law
21  as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming
22  Constitution.

23 

24                         (END)

 

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