Judge of the District Court, Third Judicial District, John A. Colborn, has announced his retirement effective October 31, 2020.

In his notice to the Governor, Colborn noted, “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the State of Nebraska as a district court judge for the last twenty years.” He added, “It has been a pleasure working with the dedicated judges of the District Court of Lancaster County.”

As his legacy, Judge Colborn leaves the community with the Lancaster County Veterans Treatment Court, the veteran-dedicated drug court in Lancaster County. When working as a deputy county attorney, Colborn chaired the team that designed Lincoln’s inaugural adult drug court and co-authored the grant allowing the development, training, and establishment of the Lancaster County Adult Drug Court.  

In addition, Colborn was awarded the Distinguished Judge for Improvement of the Judicial System for his leadership on the Judicial Branch Education Advisory Committee and his active planning of district judge education sessions. He is a Nebraska State Bar Foundation Fellow, a selection by colleagues in the legal profession based on integrity and character.

His other endeavors include serving on the Nebraska Judicial Ethics Committee, chairing the E-filing subcommittee, and volunteering on the Court’s Practice and Procedure Committee. Through his work on the Supreme Court Probation Services Committee, he volunteered countless hours leading the implementation of reforms to Nebraska’s adult criminal justice system as mandated by 2014-15 legislation.

Colborn is well known in the education field as having dedicated his full career supporting the Nebraska High School Mock Trial program. He has served as a regional coordinator and program-promoter throughout his time on the bench.

Colborn has served on numerous judicial committees for both the Supreme Court and Nebraska District Judges Association. He was elected to all Association offices, including the position of president in 2019. He also served as presiding judge for the Lancaster County District Court on a rotating basis.

Colborn has served the citizens of Lancaster County (3rd Judicial District) from 2000 to his 2020 retirement. After taking the bench, he was retained in his position by area voters, most recently in 2016.

The first step in replacing Colborn will be for the Judicial Resources Commission to call a meeting to determine whether or not, based on judicial workload statistics, his retirement creates a judicial vacancy on the district court bench of the Third Judicial District (Lancaster County).

News Reporters:

Judge Colborn’s Judicial Profile 

Replacing a Nebraska Trial Court Judge

Resources Commission Information