Bridget Hill

Bridget Hill
Nationality	American
Occupation	Jurist, lawyer, government official
Title	Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court
Known for	Attorney General of Wyoming; Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court

Bridget Hill is an American lawyer, jurist, and former government official who served as the Attorney General of Wyoming before being appointed to the Wyoming Supreme Court in April 2025 by Governor Mark Gordon. Her appointment to the state's highest court followed a career in public service that included leading the Wyoming Attorney General's Office in representing the state across a wide range of legal matters. Hill's transition from Attorney General to Supreme Court Justice was notable in part because her prior role required her to represent the state in many of the appellate cases pending before the court, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest in her early tenure as a justice. Her appointment filled a vacancy created by the retirement of a sitting justice, and her departure from the Attorney General's Office prompted Governor Gordon to name an interim successor.

Career

Attorney General of Wyoming

Bridget Hill served as the Attorney General of Wyoming, the state's chief legal officer. In that capacity, she was responsible for representing the State of Wyoming in legal proceedings, providing legal counsel to state agencies and officials, and overseeing the operations of the Attorney General's Office. As Attorney General, Hill was involved in a substantial volume of appellate litigation before the Wyoming Supreme Court, representing the state on appeals across criminal, civil, and regulatory matters.

Hill's tenure as Attorney General positioned her as a prominent figure in Wyoming's legal and governmental landscape. The office she led handled cases that touched on a broad array of policy areas relevant to the state.

Appointment to the Wyoming Supreme Court

On April 11, 2025, Governor Mark Gordon announced the appointment of Attorney General Bridget Hill to the Wyoming Supreme Court. The appointment filled the open seat left by the retirement of a sitting justice. The announcement was made through the Governor's office and was reported by multiple Wyoming news outlets.

Governor Gordon selected Hill from among candidates considered for the vacancy. WyoFile reported that the governor chose the sitting Attorney General to fill the seat on the state's highest court. Oil City News similarly confirmed the appointment, citing a release from the Governor's office.

Conflict of Interest Considerations

Hill's move from Attorney General to Supreme Court Justice raised notable procedural questions regarding her ability to participate in pending cases. As Attorney General, Hill had represented the state in appellate matters before the Wyoming Supreme Court. According to reporting by Cowboy State Daily in May 2025, Hill, who was soon to be sworn in as a justice, had represented the state on at least half of the appeals the high court was then hearing. As a result, she was expected to recuse herself from approximately half of the Wyoming Supreme Court's caseload upon taking her seat.

This situation highlighted the practical implications of appointing a sitting Attorney General to the bench. Because Hill had been directly involved in or had supervisory responsibility over a significant portion of the cases on the court's docket, her participation in those matters would present a conflict of interest. The expected recusals meant that the court would need to manage a substantial number of cases without her participation during the initial phase of her tenure as a justice.

Departure from the Attorney General's Office

Hill's appointment to the Wyoming Supreme Court necessitated her departure from the position of Attorney General. On May 27, 2025, Governor Mark Gordon announced the appointment of Ryan Schelhaas as interim Attorney General to fill the vacancy created by Hill's departure. Wyoming Public Media reported that Schelhaas would serve in the role on an interim basis until he or another candidate could be confirmed by the state legislature.

The Regulatory Oversight publication also reported on the transition, noting that Governor Gordon announced Schelhaas's appointment as interim Attorney General on the same date. The appointment of an interim successor underscored the significance of Hill's transition and the need for continuity in the state's chief legal office. Hill's move to the court effectively ended her service as Attorney General, a role she had occupied during a period in which the office was actively engaged in numerous significant legal matters on behalf of the state.

Recognition

Hill's appointment to the Wyoming Supreme Court represented a significant recognition of her legal career and public service in the state. Being selected by the Governor to serve on the state's highest court is among the most prominent appointments available within Wyoming's judiciary. The appointment was covered extensively by Wyoming media, including the Governor's official news release, WyoFile, Oil City News, Cowboy State Daily, and Wyoming Public Media, reflecting the public interest in and significance of the selection.

Hill's prior service as Attorney General placed her in a position of statewide legal leadership before her elevation to the bench. The transition from the state's chief legal officer to a seat on the Supreme Court, while not unprecedented in American legal history, represented a notable advancement within Wyoming's governmental structure.