More transparency needed from the county attorney’s office
On Thursday evening, June 26, Weston County Attorney Michael Stulken sent an email to 53 recipients protesting proposed budget cuts to his office. In it, he detailed his annual spending, described his personnel, and highlighted partnerships he says help prosecute offenders in Weston County.
But amid the pages of figures and assertions, one thing was conspicuously missing: any actual data on the performance of his office.
There was no mention of conviction rates, the number of prosecutions handled each month or year, the staff hours devoted to these cases, or any measurable impact his office has had on crime in Weston County. In short, while we heard plenty about the budget, we heard nothing about the outcomes that budget is supposed to achieve.
This omission is not new. The News Letter Journal has repeatedly asked Mr. Stulken to provide brief press releases after every felony conviction in District Court — straightforward summaries to keep the public informed about serious criminal cases. He has repeatedly refused, citing “confidentiality concerns.”
Yet, his argument does not stand up to scrutiny. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cheyenne regularly issues public press releases detailing felony convictions, and they do so in a manner that protects sensitive information while still informing the public. We have even provided Mr. Stulken with sample press releases to make this process as simple and secure as possible. Still, he refuses.
Over the past two decades, our access to crime and court information in Weston County has shrunk drastically. We once published a weekly Police Blotter and Circuit Court fines and penalties. That information is no longer made available to us. Meanwhile, in a recent online poll, 75% of our readers expressed a strong desire for us to dedicate more resources to covering crime and courts.
We want to provide that coverage. We are prepared to dedicate space in the News Letter Journal and at newslj.com to share these updates — but we cannot do it alone. Without cooperation from public officials like Mr. Stulken, who possess the information and have a duty to share it with their constituents, our community remains in the dark.
It is worth remembering that the Weston County Attorney’s Office budget and staffing levels have grown substantially over the past 15 years. Since the retirement of former County Attorney Don Hansen in 2012, the County Commissioners have steadily increased resources to this office. If Mr. Stulken wants to justify this continued investment — especially now as he protests proposed reductions — he should welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the office’s value and effectiveness to taxpayers.
Providing monthly summaries of felony convictions is not only feasible; it is necessary. It strengthens transparency, fosters trust, and gives residents concrete evidence of how their tax dollars are being used to keep Weston County safe.
We call on Mr. Stulken to reconsider his refusal. Partner with us. Keep your constituents informed. Show the public exactly what the County Attorney’s Office is accomplishing on their behalf.
The budget conversation should not be just about dollars — it should be about outcomes. And it’s time those outcomes were shared openly with the people of Weston County.