IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING

2021 WY 7

 October Term, A.D. 2020

January 13, 2021

BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL 

RESPONSIBILITY, WYOMING 

STATE BAR,

Petitioner,

v.

TERRI VIRGINIA SMITH, WSB 

#7-4685,

Respondent.

D-20-0006

ORDER OF IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION

[¶ 1] This matter came before the Court upon a “Joint Status Report,” e-filed herein 

December 30, 2020. On October 15, 2020, Bar Counsel for the Wyoming Bar filed herein 

a “Rule 18 Report of Attorney’s Conviction of a Serious Crime.” In that report, Bar 

Counsel informed the Court that the Federal District Court for the District of Wyoming

convicted Respondent of two felonies, (1) conspiracy to delivery oxycodone and (2) 

distribution of cocaine. Respondent filed a response to the report, and Bar Counsel filed a 

reply. They informed the Court a disciplinary proceeding had begun and that a stipulated 

resolution of the formal charge was likely. The parties agreed Respondent should not be 

immediately suspended from the practice of law. 

[¶ 2] On November 5, 2020, this Court entered an “Order Following Report of Conviction 

of a Serious Crime.” That order noted the parties agreed Respondent should not be 

immediately suspended from the practice of law. The order also noted Respondent’s 

license to practice law remained administratively suspended for non-payment of the annual 

license fee. Given those circumstances, the Court concluded Respondent should not be 

suspended, as a disciplinary matter, at that time. However, this Court also ordered that, “if 

a stipulated resolution of the Formal Charge has not been reached by January 4, 2021, this 

Court will impose suspension pending resolution of that charge.” On December 28, 2020, 

this Court entered an “Order Lifting Administrative Suspension Pending Disciplinary 
Proceeding,” which lifted Respondent’s administrative suspension for non-payment of the 

annual license fee. 

[¶ 3] Now, in the “Joint Status Report,” the parties inform the Court their stipulated 

resolution of the disciplinary matter was not approved by the Board of Professional 

Responsibility. After a review of the Joint Status Report, the “Rule 18 Report of Attorney’s 

Conviction of a Serious Crime,” the materials attached thereto, and the other pleadings and 

orders of record, this Court finds Respondent should be suspended from the practice of law 

pending resolution of the formal charge filed against her. It is, therefore,

[¶ 4] ADJUDGED AND ORDERED that, effective immediately, the Respondent, Terri 

Virginia Smith, shall be, and hereby is, suspended from the practice of law, pending 

resolution of the formal charge pending against her; and it is further

[¶ 5] ORDERED that, during the period of suspension, Respondent shall comply with 

the requirements of the Wyoming Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, particularly the 

requirements found in Rule 21 of those rules; and it is further

[¶ 6] ORDERED that, pursuant to Rule 9(b) of the Wyoming Rules of Disciplinary 

Procedure, this “Order of Immediate Suspension” shall be published in the Pacific 

Reporter; and it is further

[¶ 7] ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court shall transmit a copy of this “Order of 

Immediate Suspension” to Respondent, Bar Counsel, members of the Board of 

Professional Responsibility, and the clerks of the appropriate courts of the State of 

Wyoming.

[¶ 8] DATED this 13th day of January, 2021.

BY THE COURT:

/s/

MICHAEL K. DAVIS

Chief Justice