(Lincoln, Neb.) The Judicial Nominating Commission for the Nebraska Court of Appeals for the Third Judicial District has forwarded the names of three nominees to Gov. Dave Heineman for his consideration in naming a judge to fill a vacancy.

The nominees are: James D. Smith of Omaha; Francie Riedmann of Omaha; and Mark A. Johnson of Norfolk.

The vacancy was created when Gov. Heineman appointed Judge William B. Cassel to serve on the Nebraska Supreme Court, Third Judicial District.

The Third Judicial District of the State Court of Appeals includes several counties in northeast Nebraska (Antelope, Boone, Boyd, Burt, Cedar, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Holt, Knox, Madison, Pierce, Platte, Stanton, Thurston, Washington, Wayne, and Wheeler Counties, in addition to portions of Douglas and Sarpy Counties).  A map of the district is available here on the Nebraska Supreme Court website: www.supremecourt.ne.gov.

The Governor will schedule interviews with nominees in the coming weeks.