Prosecution Assistance Students Appear Before Wyoming Supreme Court

 

The Wyoming Supreme Court recently issued favorable opinions on two cases argued by students from the College of Law Prosecution Assistance Program.

Maridi Choma and Morgan Cloud collaborated with the Attorney General’s Office Criminal Division to draft the appellate brief and conduct oral arguments on behalf of the Appellee, the State of Wyoming.

Maridi Choma, the clinic’s 2022-23 student director, argued Ogden v. State, 2022 WY 111. The court issued a decision Sept. 13, 2022, that the State presented sufficient evidence for the jury to find Mr. Ogden guilty of felony property destruction and defacement and the prosecutor did not engage in misconduct during rebuttal closing argument.

Morgan Cloud, the 2021-22 student director, argued Guandong v. State, 2022 WY 83. The court issued a decision June 28, 2022, that a traffic stop was legally justified under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and the district court did not err in denying Mr. Guandong’s motion to suppress. 

The student directors worked under the supervision of 2021-2022 faculty director David Singleton to represent the state in the criminal appeals.

Morgan Cloud of Cody graduated in May 2022. She is now the assistant city attorney with the City Attorney’s Office of Cheyenne. “The significant power prosecutors hold makes it critical that new attorneys entering into prosecution use their power to protect the integrity of the legal system and uphold fundamental values of justice,” she says.

“I felt that as the student director of the Prosecution Assistance Program, I could play at least a small part in helping myself and fellow students follow that path.”

Maridi Choma, of Casper, says “The legal clinics at UW offer students an invaluable opportunity to get hands-on education from practicing attorneys. I believe that prosecutors have a unique and critical role in the criminal justice system, and I am grateful for this opportunity to give back to my home state through service.” 

The College of Law Prosecution Assistance Program this year expanded its practice area to provide assistance to the US Attorney’s Office and several county attorneys they had not previously worked with.