SUMMARY
Judge John Prokos
Third Circuit Court
Counties Served: Lincoln, Sweetwater, Uinta
Judge Prokos’ Bench Book; also see Attachments 1 through 12 here.
Specialty Courts: Treatment Court of Sweetwater County
Current Judicial Committee or Boards:
Board of Judicial Policy and Administration; Uniform Bail & Forfeiture
Election Years: 2014, 2018, 2022
Circuit Court judges serve four year terms.
Circuit courts hear all misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases where less than $50,000 is sought. Circuit courts also hear family violence, stalking, and forcible entry and detainer cases. The circuit courts may set bail for people accused of crimes, and conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases.
(Wyoming State Bar, Judicial Branch FAQ page)
JUDICIAL HISTORY
Gubernatorial Appointment: Appointed by Governor Matt Mead in June 2013 to replace retired judge E. Victoria Schofield.
Past General Election Retention Results:
In 2014 General Election Judge Prokos received 14,790 Yes votes against 4,643 No votes and 3,753 Under Votes.
In 2018 General Election Judge Prokos received 17,730 Yes votes against 4,630 No votes and 4,360 Under Votes.
Rating of Judge from Wyoming State Bar Judicial Advisory Polls:
“Judicial advisory polls are used by Bar associations to provide feedback to judicial officials about their performance on the bench and to help the public make more informed judgments in judicial elections. Guidelines established by the American Bar Association (ABA) state that the primary goal of judicial evaluation is “… to improve the performance of individual judges and the judiciary as a whole.” The Wyoming State Bar undertook its first judicial advisory poll in 1976 and has completed one each election year since.”
https://www.wyomingbar.org/about-us/resource-page/
2014
On page 8 of the 2014 Wyoming State Bar Judicial Advisory Poll the following results were reported for Judge John R. Prokos:
Out of 30 respondents: 70.0% Favored Retention; 30.0% Opposed Retention
2018
On page 9 of the 2018 Wyoming State Bar Judicial Advisory Poll the following results were reported for Judge John R. Prokos:
Out of 42 respondents: 69.0% Favored Retention; 31.0% Opposed Retention
2022
From the Judicial Performance Assessment, 2022 for Hon. John R. Prokos:
Out of 31 respondents 17 Favored Retention; 6 Opposed Retention; and 8 gave No Opinion.
MISC BIO INFO
Education: Undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from Valparaiso University (source).
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Immediately prior to his appointment to the bench, Prokos was the deputy county attorney in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. He has also previously worked as a public defender and in private practice.
Ballotpedia
Noteworthy Articles:
2021, July: Man faces life in prison after Green River shootout
2018, Oct: Judge’s Retention Questioned
Misc:
