LINCOLN – Matthew C. Boyle, Stacie A. Goding, and Martin R. Klein, all of Grand Island, have submitted applications for appointment as County Court Judge in the Ninth Judicial District, which consists of Buffalo and Hall counties. The vacancy is due to Judge Arthur S. Wetzel’s resignation.     

The public hearing of the Judicial Nominating Commission will be held at the City Council Chambers, 100 E 1st Street, Grand Island, Nebraska, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026. The Commission will interview all applicants for the office at that time. The public may also view the public hearing via livestream from the City Council Chambers, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the following link: https://www.grand-island.com/o/cgi/page/gitv-streaming-quick-clicks. If there are technical difficulties with the livestream of the public hearing, the livestream may be interrupted or discontinued, but the in-person public hearing will continue uninterrupted. No public participation will be permitted by livestream.

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 March 13, 2026, at the following address: Justice William B. Cassel, Nebraska Supreme Court, PO Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509, or emailed to ashley.jenkins@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 at the City Council Chambers, Grand Island, 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 ashley.jenkins@nejudicial.gov, and all such communications shall not be public.

A listing of the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission can be found on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at https://nebraskajudicial.gov/administration/committees-commissions/judicial-nominating-commissions/judicial-nominating-commission-ninth-district-countydistrict-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.