Last Tuesday (April 18), at the Governor’s Spring 2023 Mental Health Summit in Casper, a “Three Branch Partnership” was announced via Gordon’s Mental Health Initiative. This initiative is strategically formulating a plan to turn Wyoming courts into mental health treatment hubs, and Wyoming judges into social workers that write policy.
Essentially, two Wyoming branch figureheads publicly announced an end to supporting, obeying and defending our Wyoming State Constitution, and, thus, an intentional, and premeditated violation of their oaths of office:
Constitution of the State of Wyoming (with emphasis added)
Article 2, Section 1. Powers of government divided into three departments.
The powers of the government of this state are divided into three distinct departments: The legislative, executive and judicial, and no person or collection of persons charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any powers properly belonging to either of the others, except as in this constitution expressly directed or permitted.
Article 5, Section 16. Supreme court judges limited to judicial duties.
No duties shall be imposed by law upon the supreme court or any of the judges thereof, except such as are judicial, nor shall any of the judges thereof exercise any power of appointment except as herein provided.
Article 7, Section 20. Oath of office; form.
Senators and representatives and all judicial, state and county officers shall, before entering on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the state of Wyoming; that I have not knowingly violated any law related to my election or appointment, or caused it to be done by others; and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.“
Constitution of the State of Wyoming, Wyoming Secretary of State, Nov 16, 2022.
WY Supreme Court Chief Justice Fox bluntly explained:
“Historically, judges have really wanted to just decide cases based on the law with parties who are represented by attorneys, and it’s not our job to make policy,” Wyoming Chief Justice Kate Fox said. “That was a nice world for us for a long time, but it’s just no longer the reality.”
“The truth is a couple of things, one, courts have become the emergency room for all of society’s ills — mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, domestic violence. And even if we as judges would prefer not to be social workers, that is the reality and we are starting to address it.”
Fox said another big change she has seen is that judges can no longer be isolated from policy.
State leaders encourage mental health initiatives, Shelby Kruse Via Wyoming News Exchange, The Sheridan Press, April 22, 2023
So living by and obeying our Wyoming Constitution was a nice world for us for a long time, but is no longer part of reality – so sayeth the WY Chief Justice.
WOW!!
It is absolutely relevant that:
- Mental health and substance abuse are currently, and properly, under the purview of the Behavioral Health Division in the Wyoming Department of Health – an Executive Branch agency.
- Domestic violence is currently, and properly, under the purview of the Wyoming Injury & Violence Prevention Program in the Public Health Division of the Wyoming Department of Health – an Executive Branch agency.
- Homelessness is currently, and properly, under the purview of the Wyoming Department of Family Services – an Executive Branch agency.
Far less articulate than Justice Fox, and with faint echoes of Marx, Gordon attempted to explain:
“We need to recognize that there is a continuity to how we treat people and that does go through all branches,” Gordon said. “And somehow, as a state, coming back to those roots of we all need to care for one another. I know this sounds utopian, but that is the state I grew up in. We need to rediscover that.”
State leaders encourage mental health initiatives, Shelby Kruse Via Wyoming News Exchange, The Sheridan Press, April 22, 2023
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One thing is certain for Wyomingites and conservative Wyoming legislators who stand by their Oath of Office – we have our hands full with this repugnant mess. This fight to defend our WY State Constitution as the supreme law of the land (along with the United States Constitution) is going to be tough.
People often ask, “What can I do for my state and country?” Well here is a perfect place to start. It is strongly advised that all Wyomingites become deeply engaged in all interim meetings and meeting materials for both the Judiciary Committee and Labor, Health & Social Services Committee. Track and engage yourself with this issue just like a honey badger folks! Grab it by the tail and don’t let go! Engage members of the committees as needed by attending meetings, making public statements, sending emails, or making phone calls. Here are the legislative committees phone and emailing lists.
The Judiciary Committee is meeting tomorrow and Tuesday (April 24-25) in Sheridan and Chief Justice Fox is on the agenda for Tuesday. The Labor Committee is meeting on April 27-28th in Casper.
Click here for WY Legislative Committee Meetings Schedule for the 2023 interim. The Judiciary and Labor Committees are highlighted in yellow for ease of finding.
Please share this far and wide across Wyoming. We intend to post more on this issue.
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