Three candidates seek District Judge position based in Saline County

WILBER – Three candidates went before an eight-member Judicial Nominating Commission Tuesday, seeking a District Court Judge position based in Saline County.  The three reviewed by the eight-member commission and three alternates, are seeking to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Vicky Johnson.

Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Stephanie Stacy presided over the public hearing held in Saline County District Court.  One of those seeking the appointment is Crete private practice attorney, Shaylene Smith.

"Residents in the First District don't usually appear in this court because they want to be here. They appear because in some way, their lives are in disarray. They deserve to have their cases and concerns heard by someone with the education and the experience to make sound decisions with respect and empathy. I believe I can be that judge."  Smith is a Paxton, Nebraska native.

Zachary Blackman, of Lincoln is a former Deputy Richardson County Attorney and now serves as an assistant attorney for the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.  He emphasized his criminal case experience.

 
"I believe it's important that the next district court judge has extensive trial court experience. District court judges here in the State of Nebraska have the potential to hear some of the most important cases that come in front of our judicial system. Just take a look at some of the cases that Judge Johnson presided over in just the last five years....including two death penalty cases."

Attorney David Bargen of rural Adams is a private practice attorney, who has also served as City Attorney for Fairbury and as an Assistant Attorney General in Nebraska. Following law school, he served as a clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals-8th Circuit in St. Louis.

"Commissioners, I humbly seek this service, in all seriousness and having considered the immense public trust it entails. I so firmly and passionately believe that our system of constitutional democracy depends in part on a judge who is committed to service and is committed to serving the people."

The Nominating Commission will forward one or more names to Governor Pete Ricketts, who will appoint the new District Judge for the First Judicial District. That person will serve an area that includes ten southeast Nebraska counties....Saline, Gage, Jefferson, Fillmore, Thayer, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee and Richardson.