LINCOLN, Neb. -- A new district court judge for Douglas County was announced by Gov. Jim Pillen.

Pillen appointed Derek Vaughn, of Omaha, as a district court judge for the Fourth Judicial District of Nebraska, which includes Douglas County, on Tuesday.

Vaughn is currently presiding as county court judge for the Fourth Judicial District and started in 2013. He previously served as Deputy Douglas County Attorney for 14 years and taught criminal justice courses at Midland University, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Kaplan University and Dana College in Blair.

Vaughn has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. He earned a juris doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Vaughn fills a judicial vacancy due to the retirement of Judge J. Michael Coffey.