Chief Justice Heavican to retire from Nebraska Supreme Court

Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Heavican. Jan. 4, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska News Service)

LINCOLN — Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican will retire from his post effective Oct. 31, and Gov. Jim Pillen will eventually appoint his successor.

Heavican, in a Wednesday letter to employees of the Judicial Branch, said he was retiring after 18 years. He said that the accomplishments of his colleagues made him proud to serve as chief justice and that he’ll be forever grateful for their hard work and dedication.

“Thanks to all of you for the great work you do every day in delivering justice in our courts and fulfilling for all Nebraskans our State’s motto: ‘Equality Before the Law,’” Heavican wrote.

Pillen congratulated Heavican on his retirement, wished him the “very best in all his future endeavors” and thanked him for his “professionalism, rooted in deep regard for the rule of law.”

“I have enjoyed getting to know Chief Justice Heavican and I often repeat to others the observation he made to me about walking into the Supreme Court Chamber,” Pillen said in a statement. “He noted that each time felt like the very first — conveying a wonderment, love and appreciation for a career that has resulted in immense satisfaction and fulfillment.”

Former Gov. Dave Heineman appointed Heavican to the high court in October 2006. Heavican previously served five years as Nebraska’s U.S. attorney, a pick by former President George W. Bush. Heavican, 77, also served as an assistant U.S. attorney and Lancaster County attorney from 1981 to 1990.

Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly served with Heavican during his time in the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office. Kelly also served as Nebraska’s U.S. attorney, from 2018 to 2021. Kelly said in all of Heavican’s roles, “he has been the perfect example of all that a public servant should be.”

Attorney General Mike Hilgers said that as speaker of the Legislature and as attorney general, he had a “front row seat” to Heavican’s “immense impact on our State.”

Hilgers said Heavican’s record of service to Nebraska “is virtually unmatched,” including traveling the state every year to visit courthouses and judicial branch employees.

“His honesty, thoughtfulness, and pursuit of fairness and justice are second to none,” Hilgers said. “We will miss his leadership.”

When there is a vacancy for the Supreme Court, a judicial nominating commission for that district holds a public hearing to interview candidates for the position, per the Nebraska Constitution . Each commission is composed of one justice, four lawyers selected by the Nebraska State Bar Association and four nonlawyers appointed by the governor.

The six associate justices each have a separate district; the chief justice is an at-large member.

The Judicial Nominating Commission for the chief justice is chaired by Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman. Justices have a salary of $225,055.35 .

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