About Ed Risha

Ed Risha is a proud Wyoming native, born in Cheyenne and raised in Douglas. After graduating from Converse County High School, Ed attended several respected undergraduate institutions—including Columbia University in New York City, Northwest College in Powell, and Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota—before earning his law degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law.

A standout student-athlete, Ed achieved All-American honors in wrestling in both high school and college and still graduated Magna Cum Laude from Black Hills State. He later graduated with honors from the University of Wyoming College of Law and became a member of the Order of the Coif, a distinction reserved for top law graduates nationwide.

Decades of Legal Experience

Ed began his legal career as a law clerk for Chief United States District Court Judge Clarence Brimmer. He then served as an Honors Program Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., representing the federal government in courts across the country.

Returning to Wyoming to be near family, Ed built an extensive and wide-ranging career, including:

• Owner of a private law practice

• Partner in a Wyoming law firm

• Rawlins City Attorney

• Elected Carbon County Prosecuting Attorney

• Trial experience in hundreds of cases—from major felonies to minor misdemeanors

Judicial & Administrative Roles

Ed has also served in multiple judicial and administrative positions, gaining a well-rounded perspective few attorneys possess:

• Superior Municipal Judge

• Alternate Rawlins Municipal Judge

• Circuit Court Magistrate

• Hearing Examiner for the Wyoming Office of Administrative Hearings

• Deputy Director and Director of the Wyoming Board of Parole

In these roles, he presided over matters including Workers’ Compensation, driver’s license issues, and administrative agency appeals. Ed is also a trained mediator and a former member of the National College of DUI Defense Attorneys.

A Practical, Client-Focused Approach

With more than thirty years of experience in both public service and private practice, Ed understands that every legal matter—no matter the size—is significant and stressful for his clients. His experience representing both individuals and the federal government, from Arizona to Virginia to New York, gives him a unique, well-informed perspective on the justice system.

Ed is committed to offering clear guidance, effective strategies, and reliable representation to clients in the Cheyenne area and throughout Wyoming.

with my son at basic training graduation

and with my German Shepherd pup