PINEDALE — The Pinedale Town Council unanimously appointed longtime litigator Clayton D. Kainer as the new judge for its municipal court, effective immediately, at the governing body’s first meeting of 2024. Kainer, of The Kainer Law Office, P.C., in Pinedale, fills the vacancy left by the departure of former Municipal Judge Sam Bixler. Kainer has nearly 14 years of experience as a trial attorney and has practiced both civil and criminal law.

Kainer has lived in Sublette County since 2009 and moved into Pinedale town limits in 2020. He told the town council on Monday, Jan. 8, he is, “Proud to accept the nomination,” which had been put forth by Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock.

Pinedale town councilman Tyler Swafford moved to accept the mayor’s appointment of Kainer effectively immediately. The motion was seconded by councilman Dean Loftus and passed with the full support of the rest of the council.

Kainer previously served as the chief deputy county attorney and the Sublette County Attorney until 2018. He ran for the office of the Sublette County and Prosecuting Attorney as an independent in the November 2022 election, where he garnered 991 votes.

Bixler, who was appointed by the Pinedale Town Council in July 2020 to replace retiring municipal judge Ruth Neely, previously served as the municipal court judge for the towns of Marbleton and LaBarge.

The Pinedale Municipal Court processes all citations for violations of the ordinances of the Town of Pinedale, with appearances held on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and hearings and trials scheduled as needed.