Justice Kautz is a Wyoming native, growing up in Goshen County. He received a B.S. with honors from the University of Wyoming in 1975, and graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1978. He practiced law in Torrington with the firm of Sawyer, Warren & Kautz from 1979 until 1993 when he became a District Judge for Wyoming’s Eighth Judicial District. In 2015 Governor Matt Mead appointed Justice Kautz to the Wyoming Supreme Court.
Justice Kautz served on Wyoming’s civil pattern jury instructions committee, the Wyoming State Bar’s fees dispute committee, was chair of the Wyoming District Judge’s conference, served for 6 years on the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics and has represented Wyoming on the Uniform Law Commission since 2003.
During his time on the Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Kautz wrote over 200 opinions for the Court, and issued 34 dissents and specially concurring opinions. He was the chair of Wyoming’s Judicial Education program, and has frequently spoken at legal and judicial education events.
Justice Kautz retired from the bench on March 27, 2024. Justice Kautz and his wife, Karen, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January, 2025. They have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.
.png)
