Mid-July deadline for judge applications
LINCOLN - The process to fill the vacancy left by Judge Douglas Luebe’s retirement continues with an application date set for July 19.
Luebe retired June 2 and the Judicial Resources Commission ruled to fill his vacant county court judge seat in his Sixth Judicial District which consists of Burt, Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Thurston and Washington counties. The primary place of office for the judicial vacancy is Hartington.
The Judicial Nominating Committee will hold a public hearing in the Dakota County District Courtroom at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 9, to receive information on the qualifications of candidates.
Any member of the public wishing to present testimony for the commission’s consideration may provide written testimony by Aug. 2 by mailing it to Chief Justice Michael G. Heavican, Nebraska Supreme Court, PO Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509 or emailing it tojackie.hladik@nebraska.gov.
Oral testimony will also be available for anyone attending the public hearing on Aug. 9.
Luebe’s judicial vacancy was the subject of a three-hour public hearing earlier this month in which many from Cedar County spoke out about the need for another judge in the Sixth Judicial District. According to case workload statistics, it was suggested there may not be a need to fill his vacancy. However, the Judicial Resources Commission ultimately voted to fill the vacancy. Heavican suggested forming a seperate committee to study a potential re-districting.