Gov. Pete Ricketts recently appointed Jeffrey A. Gaertig of Beatrice as County Court Judge in the 1st Judicial District.

Gaertig replaces Judge Steven B. Timm, who retired last year after reaching the status of the state’s most senior judge. He spent over 40 years as a judge in Beatrice.

The 48-year-old Gaertig has practiced law in Beatrice since 2013, according to a news release from Ricketts’ office. The 1st District spans Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline and Thayer counties.  Gaertig has practiced law at Smith Schafer Davis Gaertig since 2016, specializing in criminal defense. In his practice, Gaertig has engaged in complex corporate and commercial litigation on behalf of the firm’s clients. He has also practiced juvenile and family law as well as both property and custodial disputes in district court. 

Gaertig previously served for seven years as an assistant attorney general for the Nebraska Department of Justice. In that capacity, he worked as a criminal prosecutor in the Child Protection Unit and the Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

Gaertig holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska College of Law. He is also a member of the Nebraska Bar Association and the Tri-County Bar Association.