Gov.-Elect Barlow Nominates Longtime Energy-Sector Lawyer For Attorney General

“I am, first and foremost, very grateful and honored by the governor-elect’s decision to appoint me to this position, subject to confirmation by the Senate,” Walter Eggers said after Governor-Elect Eric Barlow asked him to serve as Wyoming Attorney General.

Barlow’s team announced the nomination of Eggers on Tuesday, alongside two internal administrative appointments, naming Erin Taylor as chief of staff and Eydie Trautwein as chief operating officer, Cowboy State Daily reported.

Eggers, 57, must clear a state Senate confirmation vote early next year to officially take office. He brings 29 years of legal experience to the post, having earned his juris doctorate from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1997.

Wyoming Gov-Elect Barlow on Wednesday nominated longtime energy-sector lawyer Walter Eggers to be his attorney general. He also appointed Erin Taylor to be his chief of staff and Eydie Trautwein as his chief operating officer.https://t.co/Ymf3MdE6mX

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Following law school, Eggers spent three years working both sides of the criminal law aisle in prosecution and public defense before joining the Cheyenne-based firm Holland & Hart. During his 24 years at the firm, he became a partner, led the Cheyenne office for five years, and managed the energy, environment, and natural resources practice group from 2017 to 2021.

“My day-to-day for 24 years at Holland & Hart was primarily administrative law – regulatory, state, and local tax; those types of issues,” Eggers told Cowboy State Daily in a phone interview. “And I primarily represented oil and gas, coal, and other mineral and energy companies doing business in the state of Wyoming.”

The incoming nominee steps into a role carrying significant policy and litigation responsibilities. The Wyoming Attorney General defends civil litigation for the state, handles criminal appeals before the Wyoming Supreme Court and federal courts, and advises the governor and top officials.

For years, the office has occupied the center of state headlines by defending the Legislature’s multiple attempts to pass abortion bans. Although the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down previous bans as unconstitutional on January 6, lawmakers passed a newer ban in March, triggering ongoing legal challenges.

Meanwhile, federal shifts pose additional policy hurdles. With Congress shifting to Democratic control in January, federal priorities may often run counter to Wyoming’s traditional energy interests. Eggers acknowledged that the federal shift could influence the state.

“It’s obviously something we will watch very closely on behalf of the state of Wyoming, to make sure Wyoming’s interests are protected,” Eggers said.

Legal colleagues voiced strong support for the nomination. Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz praised the selection in a Tuesday phone interview with Cowboy State Daily.

Gov.-Elect Barlow Nominates Longtime Energy-Sector Lawyer For Attorney General — Photo: europesays.com

“Everything I know about him, I like,” Kautz said. “He’s got an outstanding reputation as a lawyer; he’s accomplished a lot. I think he’d make a great AG.”

Matt Micheli, a longtime Holland & Hart attorney who worked alongside Eggers for two decades, offered a similarly glowing assessment to Cowboy State Daily.

“Walter is one of the smartest, best lawyers I’ve ever known and ever had the opportunity to work with,” Micheli said. “I think he’s a fantastic pick for the state of Wyoming; he’ll be an outstanding attorney general.”

In addition to his corporate practice, Eggers has extensive involvement in pro bono and civil legal aid initiatives. He served as a commissioner for Equal Justice Wyoming, helped establish the Equal Justice Wyoming Foundation in 2013 to fund civil legal aid, and completed three advocacy trips to Washington, D.C., to secure continued federal funding for legal services.

FULL Interview Election Night Exclusive with Governor-elect Barlow — Your Wyoming Link

His pro bono advocacy earned him multiple honors, including the Wyoming Pro Bono Service award in 2010, the Wyoming State Bar’s Champion of Justice award in 2019, and the John M. Burman Extraordinary Service Award in 2024.

Alongside Eggers’ nomination, Barlow’s transition team named Erin Taylor as chief of staff. Taylor runs a consulting business and most recently served as executive director of the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees and vice-chair of the Wyoming Business Alliance.

The team also appointed Eydie Trautwein as chief operating officer. Trautwein graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2004, worked within the Wyoming Supreme Court, and most recently served as deputy state auditor under State Auditor Kristi Racines.

Eggers will face the Wyoming Senate for confirmation hearings early next year.