Jeffrey Funke | |
Office: | Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court |
Appointer: | Jim Pillen |
Term Start: | November 1, 2024 |
Predecessor: | Michael Heavican |
Office1: | Associate Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court |
Appointer1: | Pete Ricketts |
Term Start1: | June 27, 2016 |
Term End1: | October 31, 2024 |
Predecessor1: | William M. Connolly |
Successor1: | Vacant |
Birth Date: | 15 April 1969 |
Education: | University of Nebraska, Lincoln (BS, JD) |
Jeffrey J. Funke (born April 15, 1969) is an American lawyer who has served as the chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court since 2024. He previously served as an associate justice on the court from 2016 to 2024
Funke received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1991 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1994.[1]
After graduating law school Funke worked in private practice, served as a county attorney and as a deputy public defender.
Funke served as a county court judge from 2007 to 2013 in Otoe and Sarpy Counties, and as a district court judge in Otoe and Cass Counties from 2013 to 2016. He was appointed county court judge in 2007 and district court judge in 2013 by former Governor Dave Heineman.
Funke was one of seven applicants who sought the open seat on the Supreme Court. He was appointed to the Supreme Court on June 15, 2016, by Governor Pete Ricketts to succeed Justice William M. Connolly, who retired effective August 1, 2016.[2] [3] At the time of his appointment, he was the Court's youngest jurist.[4]
On October 25, 2024, Governor Jim Pillen announced that he had chosen to elevate Funke to replace Michael Heavican as the chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.[5]
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