CHEYENNE – Torrington native Emily S. Madden has been elected commissioner of the Seventh Judicial District of the Wyoming State Bar. 

In this role, she will facilitate state bar activity in Natrona County and serve on the Board of Officers and Commissioners, the governing body of the Wyoming State Bar. 

Madden says she was inspired to become a commissioner after serving on the board as an ex officio, non-voting member and seeing how much the Bar does to support attorneys. She will continue to serve on the State Bar CLE Committee and the Civil Pattern Jury Instructions Committee, the latter of which is chaired by Circuit Judge Nathaniel Hibben.

Madden is an associate attorney at The Spence Law Firm in Casper. Prior to joining the law firm, she clerked for the Honorable Kelly H. Rankin, Chief Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming and taught legal writing classes at the University of Wyoming College of Law. While studying law at the University of Wyoming, she had the opportunity to complete multiple judicial externships including with Justice Keith Kautz, who practiced law in Goshen County for many years.

Looking ahead to her work as a commissioner, Madden is particularly motivated to address the shortage of attorneys in the state’s rural areas. The Bar has recently established the Wyoming State Bar Rural Practice Opportunity Fund, an endowment designed to encourage Wyoming College of Law students to serve in rural communities. “I’m excited to support and expand these initiatives to ensure justice is accessible across the state,” she said.

As a 2011 graduate of Torrington High School, Madden has a message for local youth considering entering the legal profession: “Believe in yourself and never let others define what’s possible for you. The path may be challenging at times, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. If you’re committed to your goal, you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.” She also notes that mentors who can guide and encourage are key. As commissioner, Madden hopes to continue the legacy of providing support to law students and attorneys as they advocate for the people of Wyoming.