Jason grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan and Bangkok, Thailand. He graduated from High School in 1986 from the International School of Bangkok. After High School, Jason attended the University of Wyoming, receiving a B.S. in History in 1991. Jason was a starting center for the University of Wyoming's Final Four Rugby team in 1991. Following college, Jason worked for 2 years in San Mateo, California for an environmental consulting firm specializing in Superfund litigation. This legal experience convinced Jason he wanted to be an attorney. In 1996 Jason received his J.D. from the University of Wyoming's College of Law. While in law school Jason was a published member and an editor of the Land and Water law review.

Jason has been a partner at Nicholas & Tangeman, LLC in Laramie, Wyoming for the past 25 years. He is a trial attorney whose practice focuses on civil litigation and criminal defense. Jason was trial counsel in the Matthew Shepard murder trial which gained national attention. Jason has extensive experience in complex civil litigation including medical malpractice, construction defects and wrongful death. Jason is admitted to practice in all courts in Wyoming and Colorado as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, Northwestern Division.

Jason is a former President of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association and Albany County Bar Association. Jason has taught Criminal Law as an adjunct professor at the University of Wyoming, Department of Arts and Sciences - Criminal Justice. Jason has also served as an interim director of the Defender Aid Clinic at the University of Wyoming, College of Law. Jason is an active member of AAJ and has served on various Wyoming State Bar Committees.

Locally, Jason is an elected Trustee and Clerk for the Board of Education, Albany County School District No. 1. Jason has previously served as a board member for the St. Paul's Newman Center Finance Council, Albany County Drug Court Management Team, Laramie Youth Football, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, the University of Wyoming Athletics Department's Strategic Planning Committee, the Eppson Center Foundation, and the University of Wyoming's Education Complex Visioning Task Force.

Jason and his wife, Laura, have been married for more than 25 years. They have two children, Jordan and David and a mouthy Malamute, Juno.