In Part One of this multi-part series, Tales from the 10th explores the unique administration of federal justice inside Yellowstone National Park, one of the only places in the country with a full-time magistrate judge and federal courthouse located entirely within a national park.

Host Erin Gust is joined by Yellowstone Magistrate Judge Stephanie Hambrick and former Magistrate Judge Mark Carman to trace the court’s origins, its evolution, and the realities of modern judicial life in the park. The episode begins with the court’s 19th-century roots, including the passage of the 1894 Lacey Act following rampant poaching and the arrest of infamous bison poacher Ed Howell. That legislation not only protected Yellowstone’s wildlife and resources but also created the commissioner role that would later become today’s magistrate judge position.

The judges discuss John Meldrum, Yellowstone’s first magistrate judge, whose 41-year tenure spanned stagecoach robberies, Prohibition, and World War I, and whose home doubled as a courthouse and jail. From there, the conversation moves into the present day, examining the modern Yellowstone docket—ranging from traffic violations and DUIs to wildlife harassment, thermal trespass, and visitor safety cases.

Judge Hambrick and Judge Carman explain how Yellowstone’s court operates differently from most federal courts, including its unique local rule allowing any licensed U.S. attorney to appear without special admission, the frequent use of video hearings and interpreters, and the logistical challenges posed by geography, tourism, and limited cell service. They also describe the park’s small detention facility, seasonal caseload fluctuations, and the close working relationships between the court, park rangers, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office—all housed in the same building.

The episode highlights Judge Carman’s innovative sentencing approaches aimed at education and rehabilitation, particularly for young seasonal workers, and reflects on how policy shifts, COVID-19, and changes in park infrastructure have altered enforcement and court practices over time.

Part One concludes with personal reflections from both judges on their paths to the Yellowstone bench, the challenges and rewards of serving in such an isolated and iconic setting, and why the Yellowstone magistrate judgeship is widely regarded as one of the most unique and coveted judicial positions in the country.

In this second episode in Breaking the Marble Ceiling series fromTales from the 10th, host Laila Kassis sits down with Judge Deanell Tacha, whose journey from a small town in Kansas to Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is nothing short of remarkable. Judge Tacha shares stories of her early mentors, her unexpected path to law school during the Vietnam era, and her groundbreaking role as one of the few women in the legal profession at the time.

She reflects on her experiences in Washington D.C. during Watergate, her years shaping young legal minds at the University of Kansas, and the challenges and triumphs of her judicial career, including helping modernize the 10th Circuit and building strong collegial relationships on the bench. Judge Tacha also offers candid insight into balancing family, leadership, and public service, ending with reflections on her later work as Dean of Pepperdine Law.

This conversation is filled with humor, humility, and history, a vivid portrait of a woman who helped shape both the judiciary and the path for those who followed.

In this episode of Tales from the 10th, host Erin Gust interviews her former boss, Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich, about his life, career, and more than two decades on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Judge Tymkovich reflects on his Colorado roots, his early influences, and his path from the Attorney General’s Office to the federal bench. He shares insights into his time as Chief Judge, the challenges of leading during the pandemic and the McGirt decision, and his service on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review.
The conversation also explores his friendship with Justice Neil Gorsuch, the collegial culture of the 10th Circuit, and the court’s significant role in shaping areas like First Amendment, Indian law, and environmental law. Judge Tymkovich discusses memorable cases such as Hobby Lobby, 303 Creative, and Bishop v. Utah, as well as his dedication to mentoring clerks and supporting judicial education.
The episode closes with reflections on the judiciary’s vital role in maintaining constitutional balance, his optimism for the future of the republic, and personal stories from his travels to Ukraine and Israel.