After graduating from Big Piney High School in 1980, John Fenn painted oil and gas equipment in Sublette County as he worked his way towards graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1984 with a Mechanical Engineering degree.
John quickly found employment with the United States Air Force at Hill Air Base in Ogden, Utah where his responsibilities included energy and utility management for the entire base. While in the position, Fenn implemented a number of major changes in the base wide energy management and as a result, saved millions of dollars in energy costs. Because of his efforts, John earned national recognition for his energy management program. It was also at Hill Air Force base that John earned his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. With licenses of a professional engineer, Fenn provided consultation throughout northern Utah for mechanical engineering and energy management.
John’s law interests were born as his worked included complex negotiations with utility companies throughout the area. In 1990, Fenn returned to the University of Wyoming pursuing a law degree. In 1993, John graduated from UW with honors. Yankee & Toner Law of Sheridan, Wyoming hired John and 1996 he became a partner with the firm. His law practice included litigation throughout the state. Over his tenure, Lawyer Fenn had the privilege of representing clients in courts ranging from local municipal courts, state circuit and district courts, to the Wyoming Supreme Court and even to the supreme Court of the United States of America.
In November of 2006, Governor Freudenthal appointed John Fenn judge of the Fourth Judicial District. Since that time, he has served as District Judge and has been retained in 2008 and 2012 each time receiving the highest percentage of affirmative votes throughout the state.
At the community level, Judge Fenn has been active in your sports. He also serves on the Childhood Development Center of the Big Horns Board, Juvenile’s Court Rules Committee Board and Board of Law Examiners. In 2012, Judge Fenn was awarded “Champion of Youth” by a Special Advocacy organization recognizing his ongoing activities on behalf of youth.