7 Seek Spot on District Court, Including State Senator
Seven candidates have submitted applications to be appointed to the Douglas County District Court, including a Nebraska state senator and a county court judge.
State Sen. Justin T. Wayne of Omaha is seeking the appointment, along with Douglas County Court Judge Grant A. Forsberg and five other candidates.
Wayne was reelected to the state Legislature in 2020. If selected for the judgeship, Ricketts would be able to appoint a senator for the 2022 session to represent Wayne’s 13th District in Omaha. An election would be held to fill the remainder of the term through 2024.
Wayne has been an attorney since 2005 and runs the Law Office Justin T. Wayne. He is also the CEO of Trailblazers Constructors.
Forsberg was picked by Ricketts for the county court in 2019. He previously was in private practice focused on general civil litigation, domestic and estate matters.
The five other candidates are:
• Katie L. Benson, a deputy county attorney and an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
• Korey T. Taylor, an assistant public defender and the president of the Midlands Bar Association.
• Anthony W. Liakos, an attorney at Smith Slusky Law.
• Molly B. Keane, a deputy county attorney and the secretary/treasurer of the Nebraska County Attorneys Association.
• LeAnne M. Srb, a referee for the Douglas County District Court.
Forsberg was a finalist during the recent process to fill a vacancy created by the creation of a 17th district court judgeship, as were Taylor and Keane. Ricketts picked Jeffrey J. Lux for the judgeship.
There are now two vacancies on the bench of the District Court for the 4th Judicial District in Omaha. They are due to the retirements of Judges Gregory M. Schatz and Thomas A. Otepka.
A public hearing of the court’s Judicial Nominating Commission will be held Thursday, Oct. 21, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 501 of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1701 Farnam St.
Written testimony will be accepted through Oct. 14 by email to shley.nolte@nebraska.gov or by mail to Justice Freudenberg, Nebraska Supreme Court, PO Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509.
Oral testimony can be made at the hearing. Staggered admission and restricted seating to maintain social distancing will be in effect.
Attorney members of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the District Court of the 4th Judicial District are Susan Reff (Democrat), Matt Lathrop (Democrat), James E. Schaefer (Republican) and Daniel P. Chesire (Republican). Alternates are Douglas A. Johnson (Democrat), Dan Ketcham (independent), Andrew D. Sibbernsen (Republican) and Adam J. Sipple (independent).
Non-attorney commission members are Dennis Hein (Republican), Ronald Lee Miltenberger (independent), Erin Waggoner (Republican) and Daniel Martin (independent). Alternates are Stephen R. Patterson (Republican) and Mary Carollo (Democrat). James Maguire (Democrat) is a temporary alternate lay member.
The commission will vote on which names to advance to Ricketts.
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