Natrona County Commissioners Approve Attorney List for Mental Health Commitment Cases Amidst Residency Concerns
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The Natrona County Board of County Commissioners approved a list of recommended attorneys to represent individuals in Title 25 cases – those pertaining to the hospitalization of people with mental illnesses – despite internal debate regarding the candidates’ local ties. The decision follows a search for contract attorneys initiated in late 2025 after several departures within the county’s legal department.
the approved recommendations include Jael Morsett and Michelle Ganey of Legal Aid of wyoming Inc., Rendy Lemke, and Laura Newton and Rives white of Cowboy Legal LLC. While the list represents qualified legal professionals, the process wasn’t without its critics.
Concerns Raised Over Local Depiction
A key point of contention centered on the residency of the recommended attorneys. one commissioner voiced strong opposition, arguing that a local presence is crucial for effective representation in involuntary commitment proceedings.
“I don’t know any of those lawyers on that sheet; never met any of them,” the commissioner stated. “So I wouldn’t be willing to recommend any of them as a commissioner, as I just don’t know anything about them.” The commissioner emphasized the need for attorneys to be readily available at all hours, a factor they believe is best met by those residing within Natrona County.
Balancing Policy and Practicality
However, another commissioner countered that the board has a responsibility to adhere to established policies governing the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. They argued that maintaining consistency in bidding procedures is paramount, particularly for services exceeding specific financial thresholds. This commissioner also highlighted that the finalists were thoroughly vetted through a thorough interview process.
“I’m concerned that we are now talking about discarding the efforts [of the interview committee] and in the conversation forgotten the difficulties we’ve been facing for the last more-than-12 months,” the commissioner explained. “My feeling is: Let the judges do thier thing. I don’t know any of these three people in the resolution, but we talked at our last meeting and there were interviews.”
Deputy County Attorney Ashley Smith clarified that the board’s recommendations are not binding. The ultimate decision regarding the appointment of defense counsel lies with the presiding judge of the Seventh Judicial District Court. this means the court retains the discretion to continue utilizing its preferred local counsel, even if it deviates from the commissioners’ formal recommendations.
Despite the initial debate, the commissioners ultimately approved the list of recommended attorneys unanimously as part of the meeting’s consent agenda, signaling a willingness to move forward while acknowledging the court’s final authority in the matter. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges of securing adequate legal representation for vulnerable populations and the complexities of balancing procedural adherence with practical considerations.
Why: Natrona County needed to fill vacancies in its public defender roster for Title 25 mental health commitment cases.
who: The Natrona County Board of county Commissioners, Deputy County Attorney Ashley Smith, and the Seventh Judicial District Court Judge will ultimately decide. Commissioners debated the merits of attorneys Jael Morsett, michelle Ganey, Rendy Lemke, laura Newton, and Rives White.
what: The Board approved a list of recommended attorneys for Title 25 cases, despite concerns about their local residency.
How did it end?: The commissioners unanimously approved the list as part of the consent agenda, but acknowledged the final decision rests with the presiding judge of the Seventh Judicial District Court, who can choose to continue using local counsel.
