Greer named 2026 Lehman Award recipient for service, leadership to judiciary

CASPER, Wyo. - Judge Michael L. Greer (Ret.) was presented today with the 2026 Larry L. Lehman Award for Judicial Excellence.

Greer was recognized during the Wyoming State Bar Annual Meeting & Wyoming Judicial Conference in Casper.

The Lehman Award is given to a Wyoming judge or justice in memory of the late Chief Justice Larry Lehman, who served on the Wyoming Supreme Court from 1994 to 2002. Chief Justice Lehman is remembered for his tireless efforts to improve the court system and provide greater access to justice for all Wyoming citizens.

In his 20 years on the circuit court, Greer has mentored new judges and earned a reputation as an approachable, calming, even-tempered professional. Greer has emphasized the importance of advocating for court clerks and support staff who administer justice daily.

"Judge Greer exemplifies the qualities Justice Lehman, who also served as a circuit court judge, brought to the Wyoming Judicial Branch. It would be hard for me to point to a better person, mentor, or judge than Mike Greer. He is so deserving of this honor," said Chief Justice Lynne Boomgaarden.

"Judge Greer is smart, humble, even-tempered, a consummate professional, a good listener, patient, direct, kind, conscientious, deliberate, solid, steady, fair, honest, ethical, witty, empathetic (but firm), and devoted to both his immediate family and his court family," said longtime friend and colleague District Court Judge Dan Forgey during the award ceremony. "He has been a steadfast public servant and worked very hard for the people of Uinta County. Judge Greer quietly and humbly committed himself daily for a couple of decades to judicial excellence as a circuit judge, and he, in my opinion, embodies who and what we want our Wyoming judges to be."

Gov. Dave Freudenthal appointed Greer to the circuit court of the Third Judicial District in Uinta County in 2006. Greer retired from the bench in August 2026. Prior to joining the circuit court bench, Greer was the town attorney for Lyman and a deputy county attorney for Uinta County.

The Wyoming Judicial Council, the governing body of the Wyoming Judicial Branch, selects the award recipient each year.