The Nebraska Supreme Court is preparing to select a new chief justice, as four candidates have applied for the position. The candidates include Justices Max Kelch, Stephanie Stacy, and Jeffrey Funke, as well as Nebraska Court of Appeals Judge Francie Riedmann. The current chief justice, Michael Heavican, is set to retire at the end of the year.
The selection process for the next chief justice involves a review by the Judicial Nominating Commission, which will conduct public hearings to evaluate the qualifications and experience of each candidate. Following the hearings, the commission will submit a list of finalists to Governor Pete Ricketts, who will ultimately appoint the new chief justice.
Each of the candidates brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, with backgrounds in various areas of the law. Justice Kelch has served on the Supreme Court since 2008 and previously worked as a deputy Douglas County attorney. Justice Stacy has been on the court since 2015 and has a strong background in family law. Justice Funke has been on the court since 2016 and has experience in criminal law. Judge Riedmann has served on the Court of Appeals since 2011 and has a background in civil litigation.
The selection of the next chief justice is a critical decision for the state, as the chief justice plays a key role in overseeing the administration of justice in Nebraska. The Judicial Nominating Commission will carefully consider each candidate’s qualifications and experience before making their recommendation to Governor Ricketts. The new chief justice will have big shoes to fill following Chief Justice Heavican’s retirement, but with four highly qualified candidates vying for the position, the court is sure to be in capable hands.
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