Draft:John P. Ilsley

John P. Ilsley (December 30, 1913 – October 30, 2000) was a Wyoming State District Judge in the Sixth Judicial District, which at the time consisted of Johnson and Sheridan Counties, Wyoming.

Early life and education
Born in Sundance, Wyoming, to Harry P. and Evelyn E. Ilsley, he graduated from Sundance High School, the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, and the University of Wyoming College of Law. After law school, he worked for the Wyoming Taxpayers Association until he passed the Wyoming Bar exam in October 1939.

Military service
In 1941, Ilsley moved to Gillette, Wyoming. He practiced law there until July 1942, when he entered the Armed Services to serve in World War II. He was on active duty for four years, including one year in the European Theater assisting with the prosecution of War Crimes. After his service, he returned to private law practice in Gillette.

Legal offices and judicial career
Ilsley served for a time as county attorney in Gillette. In 1960, he was named Director of the American Legion 13th annual "Wonderful Wyoming Boys' State". From 1960 to 1961, he was President of the Wyoming State Bar Association. In November 1962, he moved to Sheridan, Wyoming when Governor Jack R. Gage appointed him to the Wyoming State District Court, Fourth Judicial District. In August 1972, Ilsley was one of two Wyoming delegates to the American Bar Association annual meeting in San Francisco, California. Isley failed to pass a "confidence" vote in November 1974, and served as a judge until the end of his term January 6, 1975. After the election, Ilsley criticized the voters for not understanding the judicial selection process. Wyoming Chief Justice Leonard McEwan stepped down from that position to succeed Ilsley on the district court. In 1980 it was reported that Ilsley had been the only judge in the state to fail to pass such a vote since the process became part of Wyoming law in 1972.

Personal life and death
Ilsley's father, Harry P. Ilsley, was a Wyoming State District Court Judge for the Sixth Judicial District from 1920 to 1952 and a Wyoming Supreme Court Justice from 1952 to 1953.

On December 9, 1939, Ilsley married Helen O. Lewis in Kimball, Nebraska. Ilsely died at Sheridan County Memorial Hospital at the age of 86.