Seven Submit their Names for County Court Judge in the Second Judicial District

Seven Submit their Names for County Court Judge in the Second Judicial District

LINCOLN – James M. Buchanan, Andrew T. Erickson, Patrick R. Runge, Ashley R. Trankle, all of Omaha; Eric M. Fabian, Sarah M. Sutter, both of Papillion, and Jenniffer A. Panko-Rahe, Syracuse, have submitted applications for appointment as County Court Judge in the Second Judicial District, which consists of Cass, Sarpy, and Otoe counties. The vacancy is due to Judge PaTricia A. Freeman’s appointment to the Nebraska Court of Appeals.     

The public hearing of the Judicial Nominating Commission will be held in the Sarpy County Boardroom, Second Floor, Sarpy County Courthouse Campus, 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Papillion, Nebraska, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. The Commission will interview all applicants for the office at that time.

Any member of the public wishing to present his or her views concerning any candidate for the judicial vacancy may do so by:

  1. Written public testimony, signed and clearly labeled as such, should be mailed to the Commission Chair no later than September 10, 2025, at the following address: Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman, Nebraska Supreme Court, PO Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509, or emailed to kara.nielsen@nejudicial.gov. All written public testimony received by the deadline will be marked as an exhibit, received at the hearing, and made available to the public.      
  2. Oral public testimony may be presented in person during the public hearing in the County Boardroom of the Sarpy County Courthouse, Papillion, Nebraska.

Additional written information, including letters of recommendation, may be submitted to the commission at any time prior to its selection of qualified candidates to fill the vacancy, which may occur immediately after the public hearing. Such information should be mailed to the commission chair or emailed to kara.nielsen@nejudicial.gov, and all such information shall be deemed confidential communications to the commission.

A listing of the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission can be found on the Nebraska Judicial Branch website at https://nebraskajudicial.gov/administration/committees-commissions/judicial-nominating-commissions/judicial-nominating-commission-second-district-county-court.

For special accommodations relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Amy Prenda, ADA Coordinator, at (402) 471-3730 or email admin.adacoordinator@nejudicial.gov.