Gov. Mark Gordon appointed Mark Klaassen as a district court judge for Wyoming's 1st Judicial District serving Laramie County on Oct. 30, 2026. The appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Peter K. Froelicher, whose departure takes effect Jan. 3, 2027.
Klaassen graduated from Campbell County High School and earned a finance degree from Oral Roberts University. He received his law degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame in 1998.
Most recently, Klaassen served as deputy attorney general for the Wyoming Attorney General's Office. Before that, he worked as U.S. attorney for the District of Wyoming from 2017 to 2021 and as an assistant U.S. attorney from 2009 to 2017. Earlier in his career, he served as chief of staff to the general counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"Mark Klaassen has spent decades proving his commitment to justice, but what impresses me most is his character. Whether serving as our U.S. attorney or leading in the Attorney General's Office, Mark has always been guided by a deep respect for the rule of law and the people it protects," Gov. Gordon said. "From his roots in Campbell County to this bench in Cheyenne, Mark has earned the trust of the legal community and the people of Wyoming. I couldn't be more pleased to make this appointment."