County Court Judge Laurie Yardley to Retire August 1, 2025
County Court Judge Laurie J. Yardley of the Third Judicial District has announced her retirement, effective August 1, 2025.
In her notice to the Governor, Yardley wrote, “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Lancaster County as a judge for the past thirty years. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to the administration of justice in the community.”
Appointed to the Lancaster County Court in 1995, Yardley has devoted her career to strengthening the judiciary. She is widely recognized as an advisor, mentor, and accessible colleague—always willing to assist others with both legal matters and issues of court administration. Her peers in the legal profession honored her as a Nebraska State Bar Foundation Fellow, a distinction awarded to individuals of exceptional integrity and character who have made lasting contributions to the legal profession in Nebraska.
Throughout her career, Yardley has worked to expand court access and improve community interactions. She initiated the county court amnesty day and actively promoted Lancaster County’s night court to help better serve the public. A dedicated supporter of law-related education, she has been a long-time advocate for the Nebraska High School Mock Trial program, serving as a regional coordinator and tireless promoter of the program’s value to students.
Judge Yardley has also made significant contributions to the judiciary through her service on numerous committees for both the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Nebraska County Judges Association. She was elected to all officer positions within the Association, including serving as its president. She served as presiding judge of the Lancaster County Court on a rotating basis.
Yardley was retained by area voters throughout her tenure, most recently in 2022. Her 30 years of service leaves a legacy of leadership, mentorship, and dedication to justice.
The first step in replacing Yardley will be for the Judicial Resources Commission to call a meeting to determine whether or not, based on judicial workload statistics, her retirement creates a judicial vacancy on the county court for the Third Judicial District.
News Reporters:
Judge Yardley Judicial Profile
Replacing a Judge in the Nebraska Trial Court System