Heavican named chief justice
U.S. Attorney Mike Heavican was named Wednesday as the chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court. He will replace Chief Justice John Hendry, who is stepping down Oct. 2.
Heavican was picked by Gov. Dave Heineman from three candidates that a judicial nominating committee forwarded to him. The others were Supreme Court Judge John Gerrard and District Judge John Icenogle of Kearney.
Gerrard was the lone Democrat among the three.
“Mike’s strength lies in his experience in leadership, management and the execution of an organizational vision,” 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,” Heineman said.
Heavican, 59, of Lincoln, was appointed U.S. attorney for Nebraska by President Bush in 2001.
He began working in the office in 1991 and served under Republican Ron Lahners and Democrat Tom Monaghan.
Heavican praised Hendry’s term as chief justice.
“I can only hope that I can carry on,” he said. “I will do my very best for the state of Nebraska ... to continue the chief justice’s very good work.”
Heineman also praised Gerrard and Icenogle.
“Justice Gerrard, Judge Icenogle and U.S. Attorney Heavican are all outstanding candidates, but I could only choose one,” he said. “I was looking for someone who would be as effective as our current chief justice has been. I wanted a Nebraskan who places a high priority on the strategic management of the courts. Someone with a strong legal mind ... and I wanted someone who understands that a conservative, common-sense approach to the judiciary is the right approach.”
Heavican was Lancaster County attorney for some 10 years when he launched an unsuccessful bid for Nebraska attorney general in 1990. He lost to eventual winner Don Stenberg in the Republican Party primary.
While in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Heavican was especially active in drug crime prosecutions and served as lead attorney for the organized crime drug enforcement task force from 1992 until 2001.
Heavican earned a law degree from the University of Nebraska in 1974. Before that, he taught English at a Papillion high school.
Heavican was picked by Gov. Dave Heineman from three candidates that a judicial nominating committee forwarded to him. The others were Supreme Court Judge John Gerrard and District Judge John Icenogle of Kearney.
Gerrard was the lone Democrat among the three.
“Mike’s strength lies in his experience in leadership, management and the execution of an organizational vision,” 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,” Heineman said.
Heavican, 59, of Lincoln, was appointed U.S. attorney for Nebraska by President Bush in 2001.
He began working in the office in 1991 and served under Republican Ron Lahners and Democrat Tom Monaghan.
Heavican praised Hendry’s term as chief justice.
“I can only hope that I can carry on,” he said. “I will do my very best for the state of Nebraska ... to continue the chief justice’s very good work.”
Heineman also praised Gerrard and Icenogle.
“Justice Gerrard, Judge Icenogle and U.S. Attorney Heavican are all outstanding candidates, but I could only choose one,” he said. “I was looking for someone who would be as effective as our current chief justice has been. I wanted a Nebraskan who places a high priority on the strategic management of the courts. Someone with a strong legal mind ... and I wanted someone who understands that a conservative, common-sense approach to the judiciary is the right approach.”
Heavican was Lancaster County attorney for some 10 years when he launched an unsuccessful bid for Nebraska attorney general in 1990. He lost to eventual winner Don Stenberg in the Republican Party primary.
While in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Heavican was especially active in drug crime prosecutions and served as lead attorney for the organized crime drug enforcement task force from 1992 until 2001.
Heavican earned a law degree from the University of Nebraska in 1974. Before that, he taught English at a Papillion high school.
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.