Six Submit Their Names for District Court Judge in the Fifth Judicial District

Six Submit Their Names for District Court Judge in the Fifth Judicial District

LINCOLN – Jason S. Doele, Norfolk; Julie L. Reiter, Bellwood; Theodore P. Arndt, Breanna D. Flaherty, William M. Kurtenbach, and Timothy P. Matas, all of Columbus, have submitted applications for appointment as District Court Judge in the Fifth Judicial District which consists of Boone, Butler, Colfax, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward, and York counties. The vacancy is due to Justice Jason M. Bergevin’s appointment to the Nebraska Supreme Court.     

The public hearing of the Judicial Nominating Commission will be held at the Platte County Courthouse, District Courtroom, Second Floor, 2610 14th Street, Columbus, Nebraska, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025. The Commission will interview all applicants for the office at that time.

Any member of the public wishing to present his or her views concerning any candidate for the judicial vacancy may do so by:

  1. Written public testimony, signed and clearly labeled as such, should be mailed to the Commission Chair no later than May 9, 2025, at the following address: Justice Jonathan J. Papik, Nebraska Supreme Court, PO Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509 or emailed to Kara.Nielsen@nejudicial.gov. All written public testimony received by the deadline will be marked as an exhibit, received at the hearing, and made available to the public.      
  2. Oral public testimony may be presented in person during the public hearing in the District Courtroom, Second Floor, of the Platte County Courthouse, Columbus, Nebraska.

Additional written information, including letters of recommendation, may be submitted to the commission at any time prior to its selection of qualified candidates to fill the vacancy, which may occur immediately after the public hearing. Such information should be mailed to the commission chair or emailed to Kara.Nielsen@nejudicial.gov and all such information shall be deemed confidential communications to the commission.

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-commissions/judicial-nominating-commission-fifth-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.