SUMMARY
Judge Michael Patchen
Seventh Circuit Court
Counties Served: Natrona
Specialty Courts: Drug Court and Juvenile Probation Court
Current Judicial Committee or Boards:
Election Years: 2002, 2006, 2010, 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 in 2001
Past General Election Retention Results:
In 2002 General Election Judge Patchen received 15,935 Yes votes against 4,106 No votes.
In 2006 General Election Judge Patchen received 17,787 Yes votes against 4,456 No votes.
In 2010 General Election Judge Patchen received 16,044 Yes votes against 3,989 No votes and 3,279 Under Votes.
In 2014 General Election Judge Patchen received 14,757 Yes votes against 3,491 No votes and 3,098 Under Votes.
In 2018 General Election Judge Patchen received 17,613 Yes votes against 3,645 No votes and 3,400 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/
2002 – Can’t find
2006 – Can’t find
2010
On page 8 of the 2010 Wyoming State Bar Judicial Advisory Poll the following results were reported for Judge Patchen:
Out of 53 respondents: 92.5% Favored Retention; 7.5% Opposed Retention
2014
On page 8 of the 2014 Wyoming State Bar Judicial Advisory Poll the following results were reported for Judge Patchen:
Out of 41 respondents: 92.7% Favored Retention; 7.3% Opposed Retention
2018
On page 9 of the 2018 Wyoming State Bar Judicial Advisory Poll the following results were reported for Judge Patchen:
Out of 30 respondents: 83.3% Favored Retention; 16.7% Opposed Retention
2022
From the Judicial Performance Assessment, 2022 for Hon. Michael N. Patchen:
Out of 25 respondents 18 Favored Retention; 4 Opposed Retention; and 3 gave No Opinion.
MISC BIO INFO
Education: B.S., Utah State University; J.D, University of Wyoming
Years of WY Residency:
Birth Year/Place:
Previous Work: Court commissioner.
Business Interests:
Family Members in Business or Government:
Memberships/Organizations: WY State Bar;
BIO Snippets from Misc Sources:
Prior to becoming a circuit court judge in 2001, Patchen was a court commissioner.
Ballotpedia
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Noteworthy Articles:
2022, June: Judge denies bond reduction request by defendant accused of threatening woman, armed confrontation with police
2020, Dec: Cash-only bond set in misdemeanor case, judge cites threats made against victim
2018, Sept: Third former Riverton Wrestler gets a week in jail for guilty plea; Judge slams “culture” of Riverton program
2014, July: Wyoming judge sets $75K bail for motorist who hit, killed bicyclist
2013, Sept: Trio arrested in Casper charged in elaborate bank scam
Misc:
