Fremont attorney named judge

by Janet Montgomery

In a telephone call from Governor Dave Freudenthal on Thursday, Fremont County and Prosecuting Attorney Norman E. Young learned that he would be the next person to take to seat on the Ninth Judicial District Court bench alongside Judge Nancy J. Guthrie.

"To be district judge in Wyoming is one of the best legal jobs in Wyoming," Young said Monday. "It's a real honor and a real opportunity to do public service ..."

Young added that while being a judge hasn't exactly been one of his goals, he is definitely looking forward to having an opportunity to make an impact on Wyoming.

Freudenthal selected Young for the position from a list of three names submitted by the Judicial Nominating Committee.

Young, 48, has lived in Riverton for the past 22 years, serving as the county and prosecuting attorney since 1994. He was re-elected to that post three times, the last time in November.

Young spent his youth in southeast Oklahoma, and visited Wyoming during his high school years.

"I came out here to a dude ranch," Young said, "and fell in love ... with Wyoming."

He continued to return and work at the dude ranch for some time. In 1975, Young and his wife Cindy, a special education teacher, got married and decided to move to Wyoming after completing school.

Young attended Oklahoma State for his undergraduate degree and attended law school at the University of Oklahoma.

The Youngs have two daughters: Jennifer, who is a junior at the University of Wyoming, and Jessica, a sophomore at Riverton High School.

Young had a successful private practice in Riverton from 1980 to 1994, when he decided to enter public service.

"I just had a desire to move into an area of the law to do public service," Young said, adding that he also wanted to give back to the community that had been so good to him and his family.

There will be a few things Young will miss when he leaves the Fremont County and Prosecuting Attorney's office, in particular the teamwork relationship with law-enforcement personnel as well as other prosecuting attorneys. Young also said that he will miss many of the people who work in his office.

"It's a real good group of people," Young said, adding that some have worked with him since he started, and now they are like family. "I'm really going to miss them."

Young also said: "I have truly enjoyed being a prosecuting attorney. ... "It's a job where a lot of evenings, I feel like I've done something to make my community just a little bit better."

Following the 2002 election that determined Judge D. Terry Rogers would not be retained for the court, Young filled out the "expression of intent" for becoming a district court judge.

"This opportunity came a long in a time in my career when I was able to consider it," Young said.

Young said he applied with the support of his family.

"We've always tried to approach things ... on what's the best for my family," he said." I wouldn't have gone forward with this without their support."

Young may take over the Ninth District bench soon, as he may be informally sworn in to assume some of the duties of the office before attending school in March.

"I've not spoken to the Chief Justice (William U. Hill) about this," Young prefaced, "I've been told that I can be sworn in and act as judge before I go to school."

Whether he starts now or after school, Young said that he is looking forward to the office as well as coming to Pinedale, where he has heard good things about the community and the court staff.

"I really am truly looking forward to coming to Pinedale," he said.