LINCOLN -- According to Supreme Court Justice Stephanie F. Stacy, the Judicial Nominating Commission for County Judge in the 1^st Judicial District (consisting of Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline and Thayer Counties) will hold a public hearing in District Court Courtroom, Richardson County Courthouse, 1700 Stone Street, Falls City, Nebraska, beginning at 10 a.m. on July 20, 2022. At the hearing, the Commission will receive information on the qualifications of candidates to fill the vacancy in the office of County Judge due to the retirement of Judge Curtis L. Maschman effective May 31, 2022. The primary office location for such judicial vacancy will be either Richardson County, Nemaha County, or Pawnee County, Nebraska, to be determined by the Nebraska Supreme Court after consultation with the judge appointed to the position.

Individuals interested in applying for the position can obtain a Judicial Vacancy Application package from the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at: https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/administration/attorney-services-division/judicial-vacancy/application.  Completed applications may be submitted electronically or by hard copy and must be returned no later than 4:00 p.m., June 29, 2022.

Members of the public are invited to present testimony for the commission’s consideration in one of two ways:

1. Written testimony provided in advance of the hearing:  Written testimony or other pertinent information may be mailed the Commission Chair no later than July 13, 2022, at the following address: Justice Stephanie F. Stacy, Nebraska Supreme Court, PO Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509 or emailed to dawn.mussmann@nebraska.gov.    
2. Oral testimony offered during the hearing:  Oral testimony may be offered by attending the public hearing in the District Court courtroom in Falls City, Richardson County, Nebraska. All persons attending should be prepared to comply with any directed health measures that may be in effect. 

The Nebraska Supreme Court continues to carefully monitor the evolving circumstances presented by the spread of COVID-19, including monitoring updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local Directed Health Measures from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. As of the date of this press release, this judicial nominating commission public hearing will be held in person. Should circumstances change due to COVID-19, all commission members and applicants will have the option to participate in this hearing via WebEx.

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

For special accommodations relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call (402) 471-3730.  For persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, please call the Nebraska Relay System, 7-1-1. AA/EOE.