Kelly H. Rankin

Kelly Harrison Rankin (born 1967) is an American lawyer who is serving as the chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. He previously served as the United States attorney for that district court from 2008 to 2009 as well as the chief United States magistrate judge of the same court from 2012 to 2024.

Education

Rankin received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wyoming in 1990 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1994.

Career

From 1994 to 1995, Rankin was a deputy county attorney in the Lincoln County Attorney's Office. From 1995 to 1998, he was a deputy county attorney in the Park County Attorney's Office and from 1999 to 2003, he served as the Park County Attorney.

Federal judicial service

On December 19, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Rankin to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. On January 10, 2024, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Rankin to the seat vacated by Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, who assumed senior status on June 1, 2022. On January 24, 2024, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On February 29, 2024, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 20–1 vote. On March 7, 2024, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote. He received his judicial commission on March 12, 2024.

Electoral history