Born on a small ranch in Superior, Montana, the eighth of 10 children, Bruce T. Moats learned the fine art of arguing at a young age. He developed a keen interest in public affairs and the special rights and freedoms afforded the citizens of the United States. This interest led him into a career in journalism. After graduating from the University of Montana School of Journalism with high honors in 1978, he was hired as a reporter on a small weekly newspaper in Lovell, Wyoming. There he found himself "up close and personal" with the subjects of his articles and the effect his work had upon them.

In 1984, Mr. Moats moved to the daily newspaper in Sheridan, Wyoming, and was named editor in 1987. As a reporter and editor, he heard all sides of hotly debated issues and saw the strengths and weaknesses of each. Mr. Moats was elected to the Wyoming Press Association Board of Directors and spearheaded efforts to strengthen Wyoming's Open Meetings Law to improve citizen access to government. He won a number of individual awards as a journalist. The Lovell Chronicle and The Sheridan Press were named the top small weekly and the top daily newspaper, respectively, in Wyoming during his time as editor. He has served as a lobbyist at the Wyoming Legislature for the Wyoming Press Association since 1997.

The Wyoming Library Association presented Mr. Moats with its Intellectual Freedom Award for his work championing citizen access to government information and meetings in the year 2000. 

His work for the WPA piqued his interest in the law and he took a job at the University of Wyoming News Service in 1991 with the intent of applying to UW Law School. He was admitted to the University of Wyoming College of Law of 1993. He graduated at the top of his class and was named editor of the law review. His classmates voted him the Outstanding Graduated of 1996. After graduation, he joined Villemez Law Office. The office closed December 31, 1999, following the death of Jane Villemez.

Mr. Moats now has a solo practice, with emphasis in citizen access to government, First Amendment rights, civil rights and employment la. He is admitted to practice before the Federal and State courts of Wyoming and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Moats and his wife, Cecilia, have two children and one grandchild.