LINCOLN -- According to Supreme Court Justice John R. Freudenberg, the Judicial Nominating Commission for District Court in the Seventh Judicial District held its first public hearing on the qualifications of two candidates who previously submitted their names to fill the vacancy in the office of District Court Judge due to the retirement of Judge Mark A. Johnson. Article V, § 21(1) of the Nebraska Constitution requires that a nominating commission must present to the Governor “a list of at least two nominees” to fill a judicial vacancy. At the conclusion of the public hearing on March 14, 2025, a majority of the voting members of the commission was unable to agree to advance two names of candidates to the Governor. The constitutional requirement cannot be met in this case. Therefore, in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-810(3), the commission shall institute a search for additional candidates to fill the vacancy.

A second public hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. CST, at the Madison County Courthouse, Courtroom #1, 1313 N Main Street, Madison, Nebraska. At the hearing, the commission will receive information on the qualifications of candidates to fill the vacancy in the office of District Court Judge due to the retirement of Judge Mark A. Johnson.  The primary office location for the judicial vacancy is Madison, Madison County, Nebraska.   

Individuals interested in applying for the vacancy can obtain a Judicial Vacancy Application package from the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/administration/attorneys/judicial-vacancies-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information/judicial-vacancy-application-package.  Completed applications must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. CST, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, and may be submitted either electronically to nsc.jnc@nejudicial.gov or by hard copy mailed to the address listed in the application package. Candidates should take steps to verify timely receipt, as the application deadline cannot be extended for failed deliveries. Please note that applications submitted to incorrect or obsolete email addresses will NOT be received and may not generate an error message to the applicant. Candidates are asked to include email addresses for all persons identified in response to questions 25, 26, and 27 of the Personal Data Sheet.   

Once the application deadline has passed, a separate public notice will be issued identifying the candidates for this judicial vacancy, and providing specific information on how to offer public testimony at the hearing and how to submit information to the Judicial Nominating Commission.

A listing of the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission for this vacancy can be found on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/administration/committees-commissions/judicial-nominating-commissions/judicial-nominating-commission-seventh-district-countydistrict-court.

For special accommodations relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Amy Prenda, ADA Coordinator, at (402) 471-3730 or email admin.adacoordinator@nejudicial.gov.