Nearly half—45%—of judges in Wyoming served as prosecutors before they took the bench, according to a Wyoming Truth survey and analysis of all 57 circuit, district and state supreme court judges in the state.

FOUNTAIN, Colo.—Signs of life are everywhere. Michael Lynch’s white pickup truck squats by the curb, as if waiting to take him to work. His orange snow skis rest against the living room wall, ready for the next hurtle down the mountains. And his old German Shepherd, Vito, sits on his haunches, prepared for their next avalanche rescue.