Six Submit their Names for District Court Judge in the Eleventh Judicial District

July 1, 2025
LINCOLN – Greg M. Ariza, Lincoln; Shane M. Cochran, Kearney; Chawnta M. Durham, North Platte; Stephen B. King, North Platte; Terry L. VanEaton, Lexington; and Tyler J. Volkmer, Brady, have submitted applications for appointment as District Court Judge in the 11th Judicial District which consists of Arthur, Chase, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Red Willow, and Thomas counties. The vacancy is due to the resignation of Judge Matthew D. Neher.

The second public hearing of the Judicial Nominating Commission will be held at the Dawson County Courthouse, 700 North Washington Street, District Courtroom, 3rd Floor, Lexington, Nebraska, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 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:

Written public testimony, signed and clearly labeled as such, should be mailed to the Commission Chair no later than July 15, 2025, at the following address: Chief Justice Jeffrey J. Funke, Nebraska Supreme Court, PO Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509, or emailed to [email protected]. All written public testimony received by the deadline will be marked as an exhibit, received at the hearing, and made available to the public.      

Oral public testimony may be presented in person during the public hearing in the District Courtroom of the Dawson County Courthouse, Lexington, 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 [email protected], 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-eleventh-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 [email protected].