Applications are due by July 14 for those interested in filling Judge Christopher E. Kelly’s spot on bench for the Separate Juvenile Court of Douglas County.

A public hearing will be held using WebEx in Courtroom 413 of the Douglas County District Court on Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at 1701 Farnam St. in Omaha, Supreme Court Justice John R. Freudenberg announced in a news release.

The Judicial Nominating Commission for Separate Juvenile Court Judge in Douglas County will solicit information on the qualifications of applicants and then consider which nominees they want to advance to Gov. Pete Ricketts to fill the judicial vacancy.

To apply for the vacancy, obtain an application package from the Nebraska Judicial Branch online at bit.ly/2lKowd4.  Completed applications must be submitted in hard copy or electronically by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, to be considered.

Commission members plan to participate in the hearing on WebEx and the public can view the session through NET’s on demand video service at netnebraska.org.

To provide testimony regarding any of the candidates, submit written material by mailing the information to the commission chair no later than July 28  to Justice Freudenberg, Nebraska Supreme Court, PO Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509 or send testimony by email to ashley.nolte@nebraska.gov.   

Oral testimony can be given by attending the hearing in Courtroom 412. Be prepared for staggered admittance and restricted seating in order to maintain appropriate social distancing.

Kelly retired May 1 after serving as a juvenile court judge since 2000. Last year saw the departure of two judges on the court: Douglas F. Johnson in August, and Elizabeth G. Crnkovich in September.

Kelly told The Daily Record earlier this year that he plans to travel and spend more time with his family in his retirement.