CHEYENNE - An opportunity to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court is one recruitment enticement the Wyoming attorney general's office can offer young lawyers.

Attorney General Bruce Salzburg said he had that opportunity in 1983 when he was an assistant attorney general. He said it was the "scariest and most wonderful day of my life."

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Feb. 19 that Montana can proceed with its water dispute against the state of Wyoming, meaning the court will hear oral arguments on behalf of the two states. Salzburg said Pete Michael, a supervising attorney general for water and natural resources, will get a crack at arguing the state's case before the nation's high court.

That job should keep him interested and working for the state, he said.

Salzburg said his biggest challenge is to retain good, competent lawyers. The state is able to offer reasonable pay and benefits but cannot compete with Denver.

"There is a segment of my profession that understands that monetary compensation isn't everything," he said. "We're trying to find those lawyers."

Salzburg made the comments Thursday evening during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which endorsed him 5-0.

The committee also voted 4-1 to recommend the confirmation of Tony Lewis as director of the Department of Family Services.

The recommendations go to the full Senate for a confirmation vote next week.

Salzburg also said he experienced "cultural shock" moving from a small law firm with two partners where he practiced for more than 25 years and focused on a narrow portion of law, to an office with 254 employees and six divisions.

He said he knows employment law but hasn't practiced criminal law for years and will rely on the agency's criminal division.

During Lewis's confirmation hearing, Sen. Bruce Burns, R-Sheridan, had a number of questions about the department's handling of a situation at the Sheridan Girls' School which led to the replacement of the director.

Lewis said it was a difficult decision prompted by an injury to a student in seclusion.

He said there had been a rift for years between the institution and the department.

In one instance, he said, there had been no follow-up on 2-year-old reports of use of restraints and seclusion as punishment at the institution.The move, he said, is to shift from a punishment to an education model.

"I suspect you inherited a mess at the DFS," said Sen. Tony Ross, R-Cheyenne, the committee chairman.

Burns cast the only vote against Lewis' confirmation.

Contact Joan Barron at {M3joan.barron@trib.com or by phone at 307-632-1244.