Funke among applicants for chief justice
Congressman credits Judge Mike Heavican for engaging with the public
By News Channel NebraskaLINCOLN - Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Funke is among four applicants for the chief justice position to replace retiring Mike Heavican.
Other applicants are Saline County District Judge David Bargen, Sarpy County Judge PaTricia Freeman and Lancaster County District Court Judge Ryan Post.
Funke is a former Otoe County prosecutor and county judge from 2007 to 2013. He was a district judge from 2013 to 2016 and was appointed to the Supreme Court by Gov. Pete Ricketts in 2016.
The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a hearing 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at the state Capitol.
Congressman Mike Flood credited Justice Heavican for preserving the independence of the judiciary while strengthening its engagement with the public.
Flood: “During my time as Speaker of the Unicameral, I had the great honor of working with Chief Justice Heavican to establish the first and now annual tradition of the “State of the Judiciary” address to our state’s legislature.
On behalf of the people of the First District, I want to extend best wishes to Chief Justice Heavican and our sincere gratitude for his decades of remarkable public service.”
Heavican retired after nearly two decades at the post.