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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman today announced that he has appointed Mike Heavican of Lincoln to serve as chief justice on the Nebraska Supreme Court.
Heavican will become Nebraska’s 23rd chief justice. He currently serves as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska, and will assume leadership of Nebraska’s high court following the retirement of current Chief Justice John V. Hendry on Monday, Oct. 2.
“Mike’s strength lies in his experience in leadership, management and the execution of an organizational vision,” Gov. Heineman said. “I am confident that he is well prepared for the scrutiny that comes with serving at the helm of one of our three branches of state government, and I have no doubt that he will excel in this new role. I believe his more than 30 years of legal experience in Nebraska courts have prepared him for the challenge of advancing the good work of our state’s judicial system.”
In the role as head of the Nebraska Supreme Court, the chief justice provides administrative leadership for the state judicial system and oversees regulation of the practice of law in Nebraska.
Heavican has served for more than five years as the chief federal prosecutor and civil lawyer in Nebraska.
Prior to his selection as head of the Nebraska U.S. Attorney’s office in April 2001, he spent 10 years as an assistant U.S. attorney, having spent time as the head of the office’s criminal and organized crime divisions and drug enforcement task force. Before coming to work in the U.S. Attorney’s office, Heavican served as Lancaster County Attorney from 1981 to 1991. He began in the Lancaster County Attorney’s office in 1975 as a deputy county attorney.
Heavican said, “I am very honored that the Governor recognized my commitment to the law, the fair exercise of legal rights, and the importance of advancing innovative strategies in court management and other areas of reform. Chief Justice Hendry has set the bar extraordinarily high, and I hope to continue in the role he’s established as an accessible chief justice in serving Nebraska and all of its citizens.”
In addition to his legal career, Heavican was a business law instructor for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in 1981 and an English teacher at Papillion-LaVista High School before beginning law school. After receiving his undergraduate degree in English from UNL in 1969, he graduated from the UNL College of Law in 1974.
In his current role, Heavican is responsible for overseeing all federal prosecutions and indictments and has the final authority on cases involving most federal civil proceedings in the state. He is involved in coordinating with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, along with anti-drug and anti-gang outreach efforts, including Project Safe Neighborhoods. He serves on several advisory committees for the U.S. Attorney General, and is the chair of an anti-terror advisory committee for the state. As a U.S. Attorney, Heavican manages a $5 million budget and a staff of nearly 60, including 28 attorneys.
He is a member of the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Board, and served as chairman from 2003 to 2004. He was a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association Minority & Justice Task Force in 2002, the Nebraska Statewide Crime Stoppers Board of Directors from 1988 to 2001, serving as president from 1995 to 1996.
In addition to his work with other legal organizations in the state, Heavican has served as a member of the UNL College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Board and the Malone Community Center Board of Directors, serving as president from 1997 to 1998.
Gov. Heineman said, “Nebraska has been served by a great chief justice during the past eight years. When Chief Justice Hendry told me he planned to retire, I knew we faced a difficult task in finding someone to succeed him.
“We are very fortunate that our state has a deep reservoir of legal talent and Mike’s experience as a manager, respect for the rule of law, and interest in moving Nebraska’s courts forward made him an excellent candidate for this position. I am confident he will do an excellent job and I look forward to working with him.”
Media Audio Clips:
Chief Justice (clip 1) (147k - 00:49)
Chief Justice (clip 2) (379k - 00:48)
Chief Justice (clip 3) (173k - 00:58)
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