Wyoming courts create a variety of records. This Information is used by attorneys, landmen, law enforcement officials, historians, genealogists, and other researchers to track property and mineral rights, social and economic conditions, personal behavior, business acumen, and the development of local communities.
The Wyoming State Archives maintains various court records. Statutes dictate the kinds of cases each court can hear.
Crook County Courthouse, Sundance, WY, WSA Sub Neg 26706
The most used records are case files and dockets. Case files – a collection of records documenting the progress of individual cases – are found in circuit court and districts courts. Dockets – a summary of actions taken and records filed – are found in justice of the peace and municipal courts.
Case files are arranged numerically, either a number or a combination of year-month-number. Indexes provide access to these records. Most indexes are still maintained by the courts.
Docket books may or may not be indexed.
Other court records in the Archives include:
Statutes may dictate which are and are not open for public review.
The Wyoming Court system has several levels, and many have undergone several changes since the state’s inception. Wyoming statues dictate the responsibilities and types of actions heard by the respective courts.
The State Archives does not have records from every court in the state. Many courts prefer to keep all or some of their records. Many old JP dockets can be found in local museums.
County | Created | Organized | Carved From |
Laramie | 1867 | 1867 | Original |
Sweetwater (Carter) | 1867 | 1867 | Original |
Albany | 1868 | 1868 | Original |
Carbon | 1868 | 1868 | Original |
Uinta | 1869 | 1869 | Original |
Crook | 1875 | 1885 | Albany, Laramie |
Johnson (Pease) | 1875 | 1881 | Carbon, Sweetwater |
Fremont | 1884 | 1884 | Sweetwater |
Converse | 1888 | 1888 | Albany, Laramie |
Natrona | 1888 | 1890 | Carbon |
Sheridan | 1888 | 1888 | Johnson |
Big Horn | 1890 | 1897 | Fremont, Johnson, Sheridan |
Weston | 1890 | 1890 | Crook |
Park | 1909 | 1911 | Big Horn |
Campbell | 1911 | 1913 | Crook, Weston |
Goshen | 1911 | 1913 | Laramie |
Hot Springs | 1911 | 1913 | Big Horn, Fremont, Park |
Lincoln | 1911 | 1913 | Uinta |
Niobrara | 1911 | 1913 | Converse |
Platte | 1911 | 1913 | Laramie |
Washakie | 1911 | 1913 | Big Horn |
Sublette | 1921 | 1923 | Fremont, Lincoln |
Teton | 1921 | 1922 | Lincoln |
Wyoming State Archives
2301 Central Ave
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Hours:
Mon. to Fri.: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Sat. and Sun.: Closed
Phone: 307-777-7826
Fax: 307-777-7044
Email: wyarchive@wyo.gov
© 2025 The Wyoming State Library
Your library may license resources not listed here. Please check with your local library for a complete list of available resources.
Contact us | About | Libraries | Help