John M. Gerrard Explained

John M. Gerrard
Office:Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
Term Start:February 6, 2023
Office1:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
Term Start1:November 1, 2018
Term End1:July 15, 2021
Predecessor1:Laurie Smith Camp
Successor1:Robert F. Rossiter Jr.
Office2:Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
Term Start2:February 6, 2012
Term End2:February 6, 2023
Appointer2:Barack Obama
Predecessor2:Richard G. Kopf
Successor2:Susan M. Bazis
Office3:Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court
Term Start3:1995
Term End3:2012
Appointer3:Ben Nelson
Predecessor3:C. Thomas White
Successor3:William B. Cassel
Birth Name:John Melvin Gerrard
Birth Date:2 November 1953
Birth Place:Schuyler, Nebraska, U.S.

John Melvin Gerrard (born November 2, 1953) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.

Education and legal career

Gerrard graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science in 1976; from the University of Arizona with a Masters in Public Administration in 1977; and from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific with a Juris Doctor in 1981. He is a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Prior to joining the bench, he was in private practice in Norfolk, Nebraska from 1981 to 1995 and was city attorney for Battle Creek, Nebraska from 1982 to 1995.

Judicial service

Nebraska Supreme Court

In 1995, Governor Ben Nelson appointed Gerrard to the Nebraska Supreme Court.[1] At 41 years of age, Gerrard was the youngest ever appointee to the Nebraska Supreme Court.[1] He left the court in 2012 upon appointment to the federal bench.

Federal judicial service

In January 2011, then Senator Ben Nelson, recommended Gerrard to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska that would be vacated later that year by Judge Richard G. Kopf.[1] On May 4, 2011, President Barack Obama formally nominated Gerrard to replace Kopf on the federal bench.[2] [3] The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary reported Gerrard's nomination to the Senate floor on October 13, 2011. The Senate confirmed Gerrard's nomination on January 23, 2012, by a 74–16 vote.[4] He received his commission on February 6, 2012. He served as chief judge from 2018 to 2021. Gerrard assumed senior status on February 6, 2023.[5]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Don . Walton . Ben Nelson recommends John Gerrard as U.S. district judge . . January 12, 2011 . May 7, 2011.
  2. Web site: The White House: Office of the Press Secretary. President Obama Nominates Six Judges to United States District Courts. May 4, 2011. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. May 7, 2011.
  3. Web site: The White House: Office of the Press Secretary. Nominations Sent to the Senate. May 4, 2011. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. May 7, 2011.
  4. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation John M. Gerrard, of Nebraska, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Nebraska). January 23, 2012. November 15, 2022.
  5. Web site: Cooper . Todd . Nebraska judge going to senior status, paving way for Biden to appoint federal judge . February 7, 2022 . Omaha World Herald . February 7, 2022.