Gov. Jim Pillen will pick between two attorneys with public-service jobs to be the next district court judge in Lancaster County.
Following a public hearing Wednesday, the Judicial Nominating Commission forwarded two candidates — Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Jennifer Huxoll of Palmyra, who works in the Civil Litigation Bureau; and Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Matthew Mellor of Lincoln, who works in the criminal division — according to a news release from Pillen's office.Â
Chief Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Daniel Zieg of Bennet, who leads the civil division, also had applied for the job.
Huxoll told the commission members that she has experience in many areas of law commonly handled in district court, from family and criminal law to employment law disputes and environmental law to contract and property law, constitutional challenges and election law.
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She said she believes she could hit the ground running.
"I love exploring new questions of law, drilling down to the basic principles, learning the elements and pulling threads to flesh out all the critical parts of the argument," Huxoll said.
Mellor said in 2008 he moved to Lincoln with his wife to go to law school and has dedicated his career to public service, first at the Seward County Attorney's Office and now at the Lancaster County Attorney's Office.
He said he's been in district courts almost on a daily basis for the past 10 years, though he acknowledged there are areas of law he would need to learn, like civil and family law.
"My responsibility is protecting the rights of all parties involved and not just the interest of the state when prosecuting cases," Mellor said.
Pillen will meet with both of the candidates before making his decision.
The vacancy is due to Judge Robert Otte's retirement in late November.
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."