---
title: "Dawnessa Snyder | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dawnessa-snyder-district-court-judge-wyoming-district-court-2nd-judicial-district-carbon-county-wy"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Dawnessa Snyder

Wyoming 2nd Judicial District Court · District Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Wyoming 2nd Judicial District Court
- State: Wyoming
- Role: District Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-29

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- At her appointment she held the role of chief deputy Carbon County attorney

### Education

- University of Wyoming College of Law — J.D. (2000)
- University of Wyoming — B.S. (1997)
- Bachelor’s degree and J.D. from the University of Wyoming
- Undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Wyoming.

### Additional information

- Dawnessa Snyder is a judge of the District Court, 2nd Judicial District (Carbon County, Wyoming), appointed in 2017 and serving until 2031, with a retention election in 2030.
- Appointed: May 2017 by Governor Matt Mead to fill the vacancy left by Judge Wade E. Waldrip’s retirement
- Appointed to Wyoming’s Second District Court in May 2017 by Governor Matt Mead, succeeding Wade Waldrip.
- Office: 415 West Pine Street, Rawlins, WY 82301
- Judge Snyder’s lifetime average is 80 (PASS), based on four scored opinions in the past two years.
- Career before bench: Chief deputy in the Carbon County Attorney’s Office; adjunct professor at Western Wyoming Community College
- Her opinions have been evaluated on four pillars — Liberty, Textualism, Restraint, and Sentencing — with scores ranging from 75% to 100%.
- She also taught as an adjunct at Western Wyoming Community College.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### courtroom decorum

Scope: courtwide

In Wyoming district-court proceedings, arguments, objections, and remarks must be addressed to the court, and counsel must stand when speaking to or addressed by the court.

Evidence excerpt: Arguments, objections and remarks shall be addressed to the Court. Counsel shall stand when addressed by the Court or when speaking to the Court.

[Uniform Rules for the District Courts of the State of Wyoming: Rule 801](https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/01/urfdc_2012081400-1.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-08-23

### witness examination

Scope: courtwide

When examining a witness in a Wyoming district court, counsel must remain at the lectern and obtain permission before approaching the bench or witness.

Evidence excerpt: When examining a witness, counsel shall stand at the lectern and not walk around the courtroom. Counsel shall request permission to approach the bench or the witness.

[Uniform Rules for the District Courts of the State of Wyoming: Rule 801](https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/01/urfdc_2012081400-1.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-08-23

### courtroom technology

Scope: courtwide

The Wyoming Judicial Branch court page publishes courtroom-technology availability and directs users to bring needed cables or adapters and contact the court to test available equipment.

Evidence excerpt: You are responsible for bringing any necessary cables / adapters. If you have questions about the technology provided in the courtroom or would like to schedule a test using the available equipment, please contact the court directly.

[Wyoming District Court, 2nd Judicial District, Carbon County courtroom technology](https://www.wyocourts.gov/court/district-court-2nd-judicial-district-carbon-county)
Source checked: 2026-07-29

### cameras and communication devices

Scope: statewide

The Wyoming Supreme Court publishes a statewide presentation-related Rule 5 source for cameras and communication devices from the official Supreme Court resources page.

Evidence excerpt: Use of Cameras: Communication Devices (Rule 5. of Rules of Sup. Court).

[Use of Cameras: Communication Devices, Rule 5 of the Rules of the Supreme Court](https://www.wyocourts.gov/supreme-court)
Source checked: 2026-07-29


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.wyocourts.gov/court/district-court-2nd-judicial-district-carbon-county)
- [Official roster](https://www.wyocourts.gov/court/district-court-2nd-judicial-district-carbon-county)
- [Wyoming Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.wyocourts.gov/court/district-court-2nd-judicial-district-carbon-county)
- [Uniform Rules for the District Courts of the State of Wyoming: Rule 801](https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/01/urfdc_2012081400-1.pdf)
- [Use of Cameras: Communication Devices, Rule 5 of the Rules of the Supreme Court](https://www.wyocourts.gov/supreme-court)
- [Wyoming District Court, 2nd Judicial District, Carbon County courtroom technology](https://www.wyocourts.gov/court/district-court-2nd-judicial-district-carbon-county)
- [Wyoming State Bar 2024 Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference speaker biography](https://www.wyomingbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-Annual-Meeting-Registration.pdf)
- [Wyoming court directory: WY::wyoming-2nd-judicial-district-court](https://www.wyocourts.gov/court/district-court-2nd-judicial-district-carbon-county/)
- [Rules of the Supreme Court of Wyoming, Rule 5](https://www.wyocourts.gov/app/uploads/2025/03/Use-of-CamerasCommunication-Devices-Rule-5.-of-Rules-of-Sup.-Court.pdf)
- [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Dawnessa_Snyder)
- [www.ballotready.org](https://www.ballotready.org/people/dawnessa-a-snyder)
- [Wyoming State Bar 2024 Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference speaker biography](https://www.wyomingbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-Annual-Meeting-Registration.pdf)

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