SUMMARY
Judge Joseph B. Bluemel
Third District Court
Counties Served: Lincoln, Sweetwater, Uinta
Judge Bluemel’s Bench Book – No file available
Current Judicial Committees or Boards:
Board of Judicial Policy & Administration;
Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee;
Permanent Rules Advisory Committee, Evidence Division
Election Years: 2016, 2022
District Court judges serve six year terms.
The district courts hear felony criminal cases, civil cases where more than $50,000 is sought, juvenile matters and probate matters. They also hear appeals from lower court decisions. The work of the district courts includes trials in the most serious cases. There are 23 district judges, organized into nine judicial districts.
Source: Wyoming State Bar, Judicial Branch FAQ page
JUDICIAL HISTORY
Gubernatorial Appointment: Appointed by Governor Matt Mead on October 31, 2014.
Past General Election Retention Results:
In 2016 General Election Judge Bluemel received 23, 301 Yes votes against 6,333 No votes and 5,210 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/
2016
On page 8 of the October 2016 Wyoming State Bar Judicial Advisory Poll the following results were reported for Judge Bluemel:
Out of 111 respondents: 83.8% Favored Retention; 16.2% Opposed Retention
2022
From the Judicial Performance Assessment, 2022 for Hon. Joseph Bryce Bluemel:
Out of 88 respondents 45 Favored Retention; 28 Opposed Retention; and 15 gave No Opinion.
MISC BIO INFO
Education: J.D. from the University Of Wyoming College Of Law in 1986; B. A. from George Washington University (Economics?)
Admitted to Practice: September 1986
Potential Business Interests: Black Sheep Batts (Joseph B or Anne S Bluemel);
Family Members in Business or Government: USDI, National Park Service, Administrative Officer (Anne Bluemel, Kemmerer WY); Lincoln County Library Board of Trustees (Anne Bluemel – Treasurer); Bluemel Case Management Services (Charlyn Bluemel, Kemmerer WY);
Memberships/Organizations:
Past president of the Wyoming State Bar and has served on many committees and task forces in conjunction with the state bar. He served on the task force to revise Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct.
Active in the ABA and was a member of the Board of Governors from 2013-2016. Prior to being elected to the Board, he was appointed to the Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and served within the Diversity Center through the Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice (COREJ) and the Hispanic Commission.
Wyoming Judicial Permanent Rules and Advisory Committee board member; Rotary Club of Kemmerer; Former board member of the Wyoming Retirement System. Former board member of Wyoming Community Development Authority (Governor Dave Freudenthal appointment).
BIO Snippets from Misc Sources:
Joseph B. Bluemel is a judge of the Third District Court in Wyoming. He was appointed by Governor Matt Mead on October 31, 2014. Bluemel received his J.D. from the University Of Wyoming College Of Law. Prior to his judicial appointment, Bluemel worked as attorney in private practice. He also served as the city attorney for Kemmerer, Wyoming.
Source: Ballotpedia
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Joe is active in the ABA and was a member of the Board of Governors from 2013-2016. Prior to being elected to the Board, he was appointed to the Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and served within the Diversity Center through the Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice (COREJ) and the Hispanic Commission. Joe is past president of the Wyoming State Bar and has served on many committees and task forces in conjunction with the state bar. He served on the task force to revise Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct.
Source: Benched! A Busy Practitioner’s Transition Tale by Hon. Joseph B. Bluemel
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Noteworthy Articles:
2022, July: Uinta County Judge Rules Political Party Bylaws Take Precedence Over Wyo State Laws
2020, Dec: ‘Clearfield Rapist’ avoids death penalty in new murder case, receives life in prison
2020, Oct: Bluemel Denies Motion to Recuse District Court Judge from Sexual Exploitation Case
2019, June: Teen sentenced to life in toddler’s death
