Governor appoints Keith Kautz Wyoming attorney general

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Gov. Mark Gordon has announced the appointment of Keith Kautz as attorney general beginning Monday.

Kautz replaces Ryan Schelhaas, who is serving as interim attorney general following the departure of Bridget Hill.

Kautz served as a justice on the Wyoming Supreme Court from 2015 until 2024, when he turned 70 and was required by Wyoming’s Constitution to retire from the bench. From 1993 until 2015, he served as a District Court judge for the Eighth District covering Converse, Goshen, Niobrara and Platte counties. He previously served as a private practice attorney in Torrington. Kautz grew up in Torrington and earned his bachelor’s and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Wyoming.

“I am honored to serve Wyoming, and to work with the outstanding staff at the Attorney General’s office,” Kautz said.

The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office is the legal advisor for the state of Wyoming. In addition to providing a full range of legal services to statewide elected officials, agencies and state employees in the conduct of official state business, the Attorney General’s Office is Wyoming’s primary state law enforcement agency.

This story was published on July 3, 2025.