Attorney General

Keith G. Kautz

Keith Kautz is a Wyoming native, growing up in Goshen County. He received a B.S. with honors from the University of Wyoming in 1975, and graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1978. He practiced law in Torrington with the firm of Sawyer, Warren & Kautz from 1979 until 1993 when he became a District Judge for Wyoming’s Eighth Judicial District.  In 2015 Governor Matt Mead appointed then Justice Kautz to the Wyoming Supreme Court. 

Keith Kautz served on Wyoming’s civil and criminal pattern jury instructions committees, the Wyoming State Bar’s fees dispute committee, was chair of the Wyoming District Judge’s conference, served for 6 years on the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics and has represented Wyoming on the Uniform Law Commission since 2003.  The Wyoming State Bar honored Keith with its Victims Services award and Leadership award. 

During his time on the Wyoming Supreme Court Keith Kautz wrote over 200 opinions for the Court, and issued 34 dissents and specially concurring opinions.  He was the chair of Wyoming’s Judicial Education program, and has frequently spoken at legal and judicial education events. 

He retired from the bench on March 27, 2024, pursuant to Wyoming’s mandatory judicial retirement for Supreme Court Justices and District Court Judges.  In July, 2025 Keith returned to the active practice of law, and Governor Mark Gordon appointed him Attorney General for the State of Wyoming.  Keith and his wife, Karen, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January, 2025.  They have 3 children and 9 grandchildren. 

Chief Deputy Attorney General

Ryan Schelhaas

Ryan grew up just south of the border in Longmont, Colorado. After graduating from high school, Ryan moved to Laramie and attended the University of Wyoming earning both his degree in business marketing in 1996 and law degree in 1999. Ryan began his career as a civil litigator with Hirst Applegate in Cheyenne. After spending over four years with Hirst Applegate, Ryan joined the Civil Division of the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office in November 2003.

Ryan began his career with the Office as a tax litigator representing the Wyoming Department of Revenue before the Wyoming Board of Equalization, various state district courts, and the Wyoming Supreme Court. Since joining the Office, Ryan has also represented the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, Military Department, Livestock Board, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Banking Commissioner, Department of Audit, Department of Administration and Information, Environmental Quality Council, and many licensing boards and commissions. 

In 2006, Ryan was promoted to section supervisor in the Civil Division and was subsequently promoted to Civil Division deputy in March 2015 by former Attorney General Peter Michael. During his time in the Civil Division, Ryan litigated and argued numerous cases before the Wyoming Board of Equalization, Office of Administrative Hearings, Wyoming’s state and federal courts, and the Wyoming Supreme Court.

In March 2019, Attorney General Bridget Hill promoted Ryan to chief deputy.

Ryan enjoys hiking, fishing, and spending time outdoors with his family. 

Special Assistant Attorney General

Jay A. Jerde

Jay was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a B.S. degree in Economics in 1988. After graduation, Jay served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Western Samoa for two years, where he taught Economics at Samoa College, a senior secondary school located in the capital city of Apia. After returning to Wyoming, Jay graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1994. He served as the law clerk for Judge Edward Grant and Judge Nicholas Kalokathis of the Wyoming First Judicial District Court before joining the Wyoming Attorney General's Office in 1996. As an Assistant Attorney General, Jay's areas of practice included bank regulatory law, state tax law, civil rights and tort defense litigation, and natural resources litigation. In recent years, he has represented the State as lead counsel in numerous federal court cases involving environmental or natural resources matters, including gray wolf delisting and  grizzly bear delisting. In 2005, Jay was appointed as the Deputy Attorney General in the Water and Natural Resources Division. In December 2013, Attorney General Pete Michael asked Jay to serve as Special Assistant Attorney General in the Administrative Division. In 2014, Jay worked with law professors from the University of Wyoming to found the Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resources Law Clinic at the College of Law. He currently serves as a Co-Faculty Supervisor for the Clinic. In 2015, Jay received the Jim Jones Public Service Award from the Conference of Western Attorneys General in recognition of his commitment to public service and his work on natural resources issues affecting the CWAG member states.