Judge James E. Barrett Summer Trial Institute

Judge Barrett was born and raised in Lusk, Wyoming, and always considered it home. In the 1950s and 60s, he served several terms as the Niobrara County and Prosecuting Attorney and Town Attorney. From 1967–71, he served as the Wyoming Attorney General. In his career, Judge Barrett participated in the disposition of 9,000 cases and wrote more than 3,000 opinions. In 1979, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Warren Burger designated him the first judge to serve on the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review in Washington, D.C. Judge James E. Barrett was the third person in the history of Wyoming to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals. He was nominated to the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals by President Richard Nixon and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 1971. He served for 40 years.