Trial set in clerk case — Hadlock will face jury of peers

The case seeking the removal of Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock is moving forward on an expedited timeline, with a jury trial scheduled to begin April 13 in Weston County District Court.

According to a March 7 order signed by Sixth Judicial District Judge Michael J. McGrady, the matter of State of Wyoming vs. Clerk Becky Hadlock has been set for trial following a scheduling conference held March 5.

The order establishes an accelerated schedule that departs from standard court timelines, noting that it “does not follow the standard scheduling conventions of the court” and modifies deadlines under the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure. The order further states that counsel are responsible for ensuring that all deadlines are met.

Under the schedule, Hadlock’s answer to the state’s petition for her removal is due March 24. Witness disclosures and final pretrial memoranda must be filed by March 30, with discovery closing April 3. A final pretrial conference is scheduled for April 6 at 1:30 p.m. at the Weston County Courthouse.

The case is set for a three-day jury trial beginning April 13 at 11 a.m.

How the case developed

The current proceedings stem from issues tied to the 2024 general election and subsequent investigations into Hadlock’s handling of election duties.

As previously reported, ballot formatting errors in the Nov. 5, 2024, election resulted in vote tabulation problems in the House District 1 and Weston County commissioners’ races. Initial unofficial results showed a large number of undervotes in the uncontested House race before a hand recount corrected the totals prior to certification.

Concerns escalated following a required post-election audit. Hadlock initially submitted an audit on Nov. 6, 2024, reporting no discrepancies in the ballots reviewed. A later review identified errors affecting 21 of 75 audited ballots, prompting a corrected audit submission.

State officials, including Secretary of State Chuck Gray, raised concerns about both the ballot issues and the audit results, leading to further review of Weston County’s election administration.

The matter expanded beyond election procedures in 2025 when the Wyoming Legislature’s Management Audit Committee subpoenaed Hadlock to testify at a Sept. 29 hearing. Hadlock did not appear. As previously reported, she later faced a misdemeanor charge related to that failure to appear, to which she pleaded not guilty.

Multiple verified complaints were submitted to Gov. Mark Gordon in late 2024 and again in October 2025, alleging misconduct or malfeasance related to both the election issues and Hadlock’s response to the legislative subpoena.

Gordon initially declined to pursue removal in 2025, stating at the time that while mistakes had been made, they did not meet the legal threshold for removal. However, after reviewing additional complaints and information, he reversed course.

In a Jan. 7, 2026, letter, Gordon directed the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office to initiate removal proceedings under Wyo. Stat. 18-3-902, concluding that Hadlock’s conduct — including the audit discrepancies and failure to comply with the subpoena — rose to the level of misconduct or malfeasance.

The attorney general’s office subsequently filed a verified petition in February in Weston County District Court seeking Hadlock’s removal from office.