The attorneys at Walker Law have successfully argued at the Wyoming Supreme Court and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on multiple occasions – both as appellant and appellee counsel. By this stage of a lawsuit, clients are typically very familiar with the legal process and the facts for and against them. Our attorneys are available to discuss those facts and give our candid opinions in relation to the benefits and risks of appealing. Please call today to schedule your consultation.
In 2022, the Wyoming Supreme Court issued approximately 160 opinions on appeal. Of those, the Court reversed approximately 25 of the lower court’s decisions. While the facts of every case are distinct and nuanced, statistics alone would indicate that the probability of success on an appeal (again, based on the data alone) would be approximately 16%.
The data from the federal system is similar, and the following chart outlines the available statistics:
The Supreme Court of Wyoming, located in Cheyenne, is the final arbiter of cases that arise under state law. Its decisions are final except for cases that involve a question of federal law, which can be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The Wyoming Supreme Court generally hears appeals from decisions of Wyoming district courts.
Similarly, the nation’s 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a court of appeals. These courts hear appeals from the federal district courts located within their circuits, as well as appeals from decisions of federal administrative agencies and some original proceedings filed directly with the courts of appeals.
Federal courts of appeals routinely handle more than 50,000 cases each year. Ten percent or fewer of those decisions are appealed to the Supreme Court, which in turn hears oral arguments in fewer than 100 cases annually. Thus, the vast majority of courts of appeals decisions are final, and they are binding on lower courts within the same circuit.
https://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports/appellate-courts-and-cases-journalists-guide
It will take the appellate court time to hear your appeal and reach its decision. The following chart shows the average time it would take a federal court of appeal to reach its final decision on appeal:
The Wyoming Supreme Court would likely reach its final determination within a similar timeline.