Since Cheyenne is both the state capital and the county seat, there are quite a few courthouses in the city, mixed in with other governmental buildings. If you are new to the world of legal matter and courts, this can all get pretty confusing pretty quickly.
This article will give you a quick rundown of what each courthouse is used for, as well as where you can find it.
Cheyenne Municipal Court
Municipal courts have jurisdiction over ordinance violations, but they have no civil jurisdiction. Penalties in a municipal court can’t exceed $750 and 6 months jail time. So you may have to go to a municipal court for a parking violation, for example.
The Cheyenne Municipal Court can be found at 2101 O Neil Ave #115.
Laramie County Circuit Court
The Wyoming State Court Website explains circuit courts and their jurisdictions the best:
The circuit courts are limited jurisdiction courts. The geographic boundaries of the circuit courts are the same as the nine judicial districts for the district courts, and there are circuit courts in all 23 counties. The civil jurisdiction of the circuit courts covers small claim cases and civil cases in which the damages or recovery sought do not exceed $50,000. Circuit courts also hear family violence, stalking, and sexual assault protection order cases. Further, they hear forcible entry and detainer cases. The criminal jurisdiction of the circuit courts covers all misdemeanor cases. A circuit court may also have the jurisdiction of a municipal court over ordinance violations if a municipality requests it and if the Supreme Court consents to such a consolidation of courts. Finally, the circuit courts may set bail for people accused of crimes, and they may conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases.
About The Circuit Courts
The majority of civil and criminal cases fall under the jurisdiction of the circuit court. If you find yourself attending the Laramie County Circuit Court, you may want to consider finding a lawyer. The Wright Law Firm is happy to help you with cases such as these. Just give us a call or stop by and we will see how we can help.
US District Court
The US District Court is a federal court that has jurisdiction over many things, but most notably federal cases or cases that cross state boundaries. With how interconnected our lives have become, more and more cases involve two or more states, and thus may fall under the original jurisdiction of the US District Court.