March 8, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Judicial Resources Commission will hold a public hearing via a telephone conference  call pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-1204 to determine the following:

(1) Whether, based on the judicial workload statistics, a judicial vacancy exists in the  office of county court of the 3rd Judicial District, due to the retirement of the Honorable Jean A.  Lovell, effective May 1, 2012, and make a recommendation  to the Supreme Court as to the  primary place of office of said vacancy.

(2) Whether, based on the judicial workload statistics, a judicial vacancy exists in the  office of district court of the 4th Judicial District, due to the retirement of the Honorable J. Patrick  Mullen, effective June 1, 2012, and make a recommendation to the Supreme Court as to the  primary place of office of said vacancy. The hearing is scheduled  for Tuesday, March 27, 2012,  at  9:00 a.m. central time.

The hearing will be held via telephone conferencing from the Nebraska State Capitol, Room 1510,  Lincoln, Nebraska. The commission makes its determination based on weighted caseloads, adequate access  to the courts by litigants, population, judicial duties, travel time and other factors necessary to  assure efficiency and service of the court system.    

Following the hearing, the commission will make a recommendation to the Legislature of  their determination.

Commission members are:

Supreme Court Justice Michael McCormack, Chairperson

Riko E. Bishop, Lincoln

Richard Carter, Bellevue

Mike Day, Omaha

Thomas F. Hoarty, Omaha

Jayne Mann, Aurora

Wayne J. Mark, Omaha

Steven F. Mattoon, Sidney

Patrick R. McDermott, Schuyler

Robert B. O'Neal, Papillion  

Robert J. Parker, Hastings

Brian Phares, North Platte

John E. Samson, Blair

Lori Scherer, Beemer

Amy Schlichting, Lincoln

Mark M. Sipple, Columbus

Darlene Starman, Lincoln

Any member  of  the public is entitled to attend the Nebraska Judicial Resources  Commission hearing in Room 1510 of the State Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska, and present, either  orally or in writing, any pertinent information concerning the existence of a judicial vacancy. If  anyone wishes to present written material at the hearing, a copy of such material should be  furnished to the Chairperson at least one week prior to the hearing.

For special accommodations relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call  (402) 471-3730. For persons with hearing impairments, please call the Nebraska Relay System  at 711.