CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Supreme Court today ruled in favor of Superintendent of Education Cindy Hill in a challenge to the Legislature’s vote to strip her office of some of its powers. Read the full decision here. The Court voted 3-to-2 in the decision.

The majority concluded that the Act unconstitutionally deprives the State Superintendent of Public Instruction of the power of  “general supervision of the public schools” that is entrusted to the Superintendent in
Article 7, Section 14 of the Wyoming Constitution.

The minority concluded that treating this matter as one of “very grave importance,” Cahill, 75 P. at 442, approaching the question with “great caution” and examining the relevant constitutional provisions and challenged statute in every possible aspect, Schnitger, 95 P. at 709, this Court cannot conclude Superintendent Hill and the Powers have met their burden of proving SEA 0001 is unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt. The only conclusion the Court can reasonably reach is that the legislature has, in SEA 0001, constitutionally exercised its plenary power over the state educational system as mandated by the framers of the state constitution.

Hill is reportedly speaking at a press conference this afternoon.