Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Matthew Mellor of Lincoln as Lancaster County's next district court judge.
Mellor, 40, currently is a deputy Lancaster County Attorney in the criminal division prosecuting felony drug cases and crimes against children. He started his legal career as a deputy with the Seward County Attorney’s Office.
Mellor earned his law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
At a nominating commission hearing, Mellor said he moved to Lincoln in 2008 with his wife to go to law school and has dedicated his career to public service.
He said he's been in district courts almost on a daily basis for the past 10 years.
Pillen announced the appointment in a news release Friday.
The vacancy is due to Judge Robert Otte's retirement in late November.
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In their own words: Judges, lawyers, professors discuss diversity in Nebraska's legal community
On Juneteenth, as the country neared Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's swearing-in as the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, the Journal Star reached out to several people on the bench, in the legal community and at Nebraska's law schools to ask their thoughts about diversity in the state's courtrooms.
We asked what drew them to a career in law; how long they've been working in Nebraska and if they plan to stay; why diversity is important in the judicial system and what can be done to foster diversity in the legal community.
View their answers below.
"I immigrated from a country with little rule of law and it is inspiring every day to be a part of this great country’s system of law and justice."
"We need to help make the journey to law school more accessible for young people. Many people of color or from diverse backgrounds do not have attorneys in their families or broader friend groups."
"Having an awareness that each individual is different and unique based on a culmination of their life experiences is the foundation of equity and fairness."
"One thing that will improve diversity among attorneys and judges here in Nebraska is to try to retain the diverse law students that attend Nebraska law schools."
"No matter who you are, we need lawyers and judges in our communities who look like you or share your life experiences."
"Bringing diversity of skills and experiences to any endeavor can result in a better end-product, whether it is the skill sets needed to build a house or a judicial system."
"In order to apply the law in the most equitable fashion possible, the judicial system must incorporate the varied perspectives of all of its constituents."