CASPER ATTORNEY RECOGNIZED WITH WYOMING STATE BAR SERVICE AWARD

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming State Bar is pleased to announce that John A. Masterson, an attorney from Casper, is the recipient of the Bar’s fifth annual John M. Burman Extraordinary Service Award. The award was presented during an awards luncheon at the Wyoming State Bar’s Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference hosted in Laramie last week.

The John M. Burman Extraordinary Service Award is given in memory of Professor Burman, who died in February 2019, and who is remembered as a recognized expert in the field of legal and judicial ethics, codes of conduct for lawyers and judges, and professional responsibility. Burman was a prolific writer in these areas of the law, as well as in the law of children and families, the child welfare system, and the juvenile justice system.

The award was presented to Masterson by Jackson lawyer and Wyoming State Bar President, Christopher Hawks, who recognized his many years of exemplary service to the Bar and his clients.

Masterson graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law and began his legal career working for the County and District Courts in Natrona County. He later transitioned into private practice and then became an Assistant District Attorney. Masterson moved on to become a lawyer in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming. In 2003, Governor Freudenthal appointed him to serve as legal counsel and federal/state relations coordinator with the Governor’s Office. In his final months of service to the state, Masterson served as the Deputy Director of Wyoming’s Office of State Lands and Investments. He participated directly in policy making, oversight and administration of over 3.5 million acres of state surface lands and 4.2 million acres of minerals.

Masterson has been a tireless supporter of the Wyoming State Bar serving on the Board of Law Examiners, the Board of Professional Responsibility, the Board of Officers & Commissioners, the Civil Pattern Jury Instructions Committee, the Legislative Developments Committee, the Editorial Committee for the Wyoming Lawyer and the Wyoming Lawyer Assistance Program (WyLAP) Advisory Committee. He is also a past president of the Wyoming State Bar.

“John’s service to Wyoming extends beyond law as well, as John is a tireless supporter of Casper and Wyoming through many organizations, including the Library Foundation, the Troopers Board of Directors and the Drum Corps International Board of Directors,” said Ken Barbe, an attorney from Casper who nominated Masterson for the award. Barbe refers to Masterson as at the top of the heap when it comes to providing extraordinary services to his clients, the Wyoming State Bar, the University of Wyoming College of Law, the Wyoming Judiciary and the citizens of Wyoming.

Criteria for the John M. Burman Extraordinary Service Aware are extensive. Recipients must demonstrate a history of extraordinary service to Wyoming lawyers, the Wyoming State Bar, the University of Wyoming College of Law, the Wyoming judiciary, the citizens of Wyoming and the international community. Like Professor Burman, they must be recognized by their peers as exemplifying legal ethics and professional responsibility.

Share on Social Media