18-3-903. Suspension of officers by the governor pending outcome of proceedings; notice; order to be filed; filling of vacancies; restoration of office upon verdict of not guilty; reimbursement of compensation and expense of trial.
(a) Whenever a proceeding as specified by W.S. 18-3-902 has been commenced in the district court, the governor may cause notice to be served upon the accused officer setting forth the misconduct or malfeasance in office as charged in the petition and requiring the officer to appear before him at a designated time and place not less than five (5) days after service of the notice. The governor shall hear the charges against and the defense of the officer, which may be presented by affidavits or otherwise. If the governor determines that the officer is guilty of misconduct or malfeasance in office he may by an order signed by him and filed in the office of the secretary of state, suspend the officer from the further exercise of his duties until the termination of the trial of such officer as provided by W.S. 18-3-902. Duplicate copies of the order of suspension shall be filed in the offices of the county clerk and the clerk of the district court of the county in which the accused is an officer.
(b) Whenever any county officer is suspended as provided by this section the person or board having authority to fill vacancies in the office shall appoint some qualified elector to temporarily fill the office and perform the duties thereof so long as the suspension continues. If the officer suspended is a county commissioner the governor shall appoint some qualified elector to temporarily fill the office and perform the duties thereof so long as the suspension continues. Whenever any officer is removed by a final judgment entered in such proceeding the vacancy shall be filled as provided by law.
(c) Any county officer who has been suspended under the provisions of this section and who is found by the district court to be not guilty of the misconduct or malfeasance in office charged against him shall be restored to his office and shall receive the compensation provided for the office during the period of his suspension. He shall be reimbursed by the state of Wyoming for all actual and necessary expenditures made by him in connection with all trials and hearings provided for in this section.