A Hemingford High School Graduate was appointed as a County Court Judge in the First Judicial District by Governor Pete Ricketts.
Jeffrey Gaertig, was announced to the position on Tuesday morning. Living in Beatrice, he will serve in the First Judicial District, which includes Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline and Thayer Counties.
Gaertig, who is 48, has practiced law in Beatrice since 2013, joining Smith Schafer Davis Gaertig in 2016 and specializing in criminal defense.
“In his practice, Gaertig has engaged in complex corporate and commercial litigation on behalf of the firm’s clients,” a press release announcing his appointment stated. “He has also practiced juvenile law and represented individuals in family law matters and cases consisting of both property and custodial disputes in district court.
Before practicing law in Beatrice, Gaertig served as an assistant attorney general in the Nebraska Department of Justice for seven years, working as a criminal prosecutor in the Child Protection Unit and the Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
Gaertig graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law. He is filling the vacancy from Judge Steven B. Timm, who served more than 40 years on the bench.