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May 4, 2011 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson said President Obama made an outstanding choice in nominating Nebraska Supreme Court Justice John Gerrard to become a federal judge for the United States District Court for Nebraska.
“Justice Gerrard’s record is exceptional, both in private practice and on the Nebraska Supreme Court, and he will do an exemplary job as a U.S. District Judge in Nebraska,” said Senator Nelson. “John Gerrard has the experience, intellect and temperament needed on our federal bench. I cannot think of anyone better qualified, and I look forward to seeing him through confirmation by the Senate.”
Nelson recommended Gerrard for the federal bench in January.
Gerrard was named to the Nebraska Supreme Court by then-Governor Nelson in 1995. Nebraska voters have retained Gerrard in office three times, in 1998, 2004 and 2010, and he consistently has received top ratings by the Nebraska State Bar Association in its biennial judicial evaluations.
Gerrard, 57, a native of Schuyler, has served as a private attorney, a city attorney, and as counsel to several public schools in Nebraska.
In 2006, Gerrard received the Distinguished Judge for Improvement of Judicial System award from the Nebraska judicial system for his work leading initiatives promoting racial and ethnic fairness under the law. He received the 2008 Legal Pioneer Award from the Nebraska State Bar Foundation for helping make the courts more user friendly to citizens from all cultures by utilizing technology to improve both understanding and participation in the courts.
On the Nebraska Supreme Court, Gerrard has authored more than 450 opinions, including the majority opinion in State v. Henderson, (2/27/09), which overturned an arbitrator’s reinstatement of a state patrolman who voluntarily affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan. Gerrard and his colleagues on the court found reinstatement would violate Nebraska’s well-established public policy that laws should be enforced without racial or religious discrimination.
He also authored the opinion in State v. Edwards, (7/10/09), in which the court found a homicide could be determined to have occurred through available evidence even if the victim’s body was not found. Other opinions written by Gerrard helped establish how legal cases are handled in Nebraska, including how expert testimony is received and clarifying duty analysis in negligence cases.
Prior to his service on the court, Gerrard was senior partner in the law firm of Gerrard, Stratton & Ptak, P.C., in Norfolk, where he was in private practice for 14 years. He served as the Battle Creek city attorney and counsel to Northeast Community College, Norfolk Public Schools and other northeast Nebraska school districts.
Gerrard received a Bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1975, a Master’s of Public Administration in 1977 from the University of Arizona and his J.D. degree in 1981 from Pacific McGeorge School of Law.
If he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Gerrard would replace Judge Richard Kopf, who was seated in 1992 and will take senior status on Dec. 1, 2011.
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