BEATRICE – There is now officially a new Gage County Judge in the First Judicial District.
A swearing-in ceremony was held in Beatrice Friday, for attorney Jeffrey Gaertig, appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts to the County Court Bench in Gage County.
Nebraska Supreme Court Justice John Freudenberg administered the oath to Gaertig, who has practiced law in Beatrice since 2013, most recently with the firm of Smith, Schafer, Davis and Gaertig.
Gaertig, during an investiture ceremony in the Gage County District Court room, said he plans to emphasize mutual respect as a judge.
“If you treat me or if you treat the process with the court, or the opposing counsel and litigants….you treat them with dignity and honor, and respect, I will repay that plus-one. The reciprocity and the mutual give-back…I will pay back seven-fold, if you come to my court.”
Several current and former judges in the First Judicial District along with court staff attended the ceremony and reception held afterward.
Gaertig served for seven years as an Assistant Nebraska Attorney General as a prosecutor in the Child Protection Unit and Drug and Violent Crime Unit. He holds a Psychology degree from the University of Nebraska and earned his law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Gaertig’s appointment fills a vacancy created by last year’s retirement of Judge Steven Timm. The First Judicial District includes Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline and Thayer Counties.
