RETIRED CASPER JUDGE RECEIVES BAR’S PROFESSIONALISM AWARD

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming State Bar is pleased to announce that Casper attorney and retired District Court judge W. Thomas Sullins is this year’s recipient of its Gerald R. Mason Professionalism Award. The award was presented on September 15^th in conjunction with the Bar’s Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference, which took place in Casper.

Sullins is the twelfth recipient of this annual award. The award was presented by J. Kenneth Barbe, President of the Wyoming State Bar.

The Professionalism Award is given to a Wyoming lawyer/judge who represents the highest standards of ethics and dedication to the law, but also recognizes someone who contributes their time and energy to making the Wyoming Bar and its lawyers the best people they can be.

“I had the pleasure of practicing law with Tom Sullins for ten years before he became a judge. As a lawyer and a judge, Tom was a dedicated mentor who always took time to discuss and teach about the legal issues presented by a case. Many experienced lawyers recognize the value of good mentoring, but few have the commitment and persistence to devote the time that mentoring requires. Tom is a rare exception of an attorney who did not lose enthusiasm for mentoring,” said Barbe.

“Even as he approached his retirement on the district court bench, Judge Sullins continued to be engaged in teaching his law clerks about not only the ‘whats’ of the law but also the ‘whys.’ Tom’s dedication to teaching is evident by his involvement in teaching classes at Casper College and the University of Wyoming College of Law. However, in addition to mentoring, what sets Tom apart as a lawyer and a judge is his humility and graciousness. Tom is a true gentleman. Even if he is the smartest guy in the room, Tom has never shown the need to have others acknowledge it.”

Sullins received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wyoming in 1971 and his J.D. degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1974. He began his career in the law as a Deputy County Attorney for Natrona County and served until 1979 when he joined the law firm of Brow, Drew, Apostolos, Massey and Sullivan. In 1995, Sullins was appointed to be district court judge for the Seventh Judicial District in Natrona County where he served until his retirement in 2019. Sullins’ enthusiasm for teaching is most likely inherited from his namesake and father, W. Thomas Sullins, who served as the first principal for Kelly Walsh High School when it was opened in Casper in 1965.

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