LINCOLN -  A new District Judge has been appointed, filling a southeast Nebraska judicial vacancy due to the retirement of Judge Vicky Johnson.

Governor Pete Ricketts has appointed David Bargen of Adams as a District Court Judge in the First Judicial District.  The district includes Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, and Thayer counties.

The 49-year-old Bargen has been in private law practice in Lincoln since 2006, becoming a partner in 2012.  His practice includes municipal and governmental law, water law, and civil litigation. 

Bargen was serving as Fairbury City Attorney and as an assistant city attorney to several Nebraska municipalities.

He has also served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Nebraska in various lawsuits.  Bargen's water law practice has included representing public power and irrigation districts, natural resources districts and challenges to integrated management plans in contested hearings at the Department of Natural Resources.

From 2004 to 2006, Bargen worked as a judicial clerk for Judge C. Arlen Beam in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Bargen holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a Master of Science in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  He earned his law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law. 

Bargen has taught land use regulation law as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Nebraska College of Law.  He has served as a co-coach for the Norris High School Mock Trial Team, a presenter and facilitator on municipal government at Cornhusker Boys State and served as Board President of Lincoln Literacy.

As a District Judge, Bargen will be based in Wilber.