Sharpe, Lavery presented with Lehman Award for service to Wyoming judiciary

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Two Wyoming district court judges are co-recipients of the 2025 Larry L. Lehman Award for Judicial Excellence.

Judges Steven K. Sharpe (Ret.) and Richard L. Lavery received the award during the Wyoming State Bar Annual Meeting & Wyoming Judicial Conference in Laramie. Judge Sharpe retired as a district court judge for the First Judicial District in Cheyenne in May 2025. Judge Lavery currently serves as a district court judge in the Third Judicial District in Green River.

The award is in recognition of the judges' leadership and service to the Wyoming Judicial Branch and the Wyoming State Bar in launching the Wyoming Chancery Court. The Wyoming Chancery Court serves commercial, business, and trust litigants statewide by offering a more efficient avenue for Wyoming's business community to resolve legal disputes.

From 2021 to 2024, the Wyoming Chancery Court was without a full-time judge while its caseload grew. In addition to maintaining their regular district court caseloads, Judges Sharpe and Lavery managed all Chancery Court cases from the court's launch in December 2021 until the court's first full-time judge took the bench in January 2025. Known for their capable and swift handling of complex business and trust cases, Judges Sharpe and Lavery readily met the Wyoming business community's needs.

In presenting the award on behalf of the Wyoming Judicial Council, Chief Justice Lynne Boomgaarden noted that "Judges Sharpe and Lavery embody the spirit of service and innovation that the Larry L. Lehman Award stands for," she added. "Their dedication in guiding the Chancery Court through its early years, while also managing full district court workloads, reflects their commitment to service and the best qualities of our judicial system."

The Lehman Award is given to a Wyoming judge or justice in memory of the late Chief Justice Larry Lehman, who served on the Wyoming Supreme Court from 1994 to 2002. Chief Justice Lehman is remembered for his tireless efforts to improve the operation of the court system and to provide greater access to justice for all Wyoming citizens.