Hon. C. Jo Petersen

Hon. C. Jo Petersen

Hon. C. Jo Petersen

District
5
County
Seward
Court(s)
Seward County Court
P.O. Box 37
Seward
NE
68434
Fax
(402) 643-2950

Judgeship

2013 - Present
County Court Judge, 5th Judicial District
Boone, Butler, Colfax, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward, and York Counties

2015, 2016, 2020
Presiding Judge, 5th Judicial District

Experience

1985 - 2013
President and Attorney
Law Offices of C. Jo Petersen

2007 - 2013
Deputy County Attorney
Saunders County Attorney’s Office

2004 - 2013
Deputy County Attorney
Hamilton County Attorney’s Office

2007
Acting Legal Counsel
Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office

1996 - 2007 and 1987 - 1990
Butler County Attorney’s Office, Deputy County Attorney

2000 - 2004 and 1986 - 1990
Deputy County Attorney
Polk County Attorney’s Office

1999 - 2000 and 1986 - 1987
Deputy County Attorney
Platte County Attorney’s Office

1991 - 1999
Seward County Attorney

1984
Law Clerk
Nelson and Harding Law Firm

1984
Law Clerk
Professor Lyons, UNL College of Law
 

Education

University of Nebraska College of Law, 1984
Juris Doctorate

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1982
Dual Matriculate:  B.A with Majors in Political Science and English
Nebraska Teaching Certificate

Judicial/Law Related Activities

Professional Affiliations
Nebraska Bar Association, 1985-present
House of Delegates, Nebraska Bar Association, 2010-Present
Nebraska Women's Leadership Network - UNL
Nebraska Women's Bar Association

Nebraska State Bar/Local Attorney Association Committees
Nebraska County Judges Association: President (2021-2022), Executive Committee, Bench Book Committee, Legislative Committee
Nebraska County Attorney's Association: Past President, 2012-2013; Board of Directors ; Legislative Chair
National District Attorneys Association 

Nebraska Supreme Court Committees
Judicial Leadership Program

Community Involvement

Nebraska High School Mock Trial Competition
Coach, Performance Judge
National High School Mock Trial Competition
Performance Judge 1996
Library Volunteer
Youth Softball Coach
Chamber of Commerce - Past President

Honors and Publications

2011 Prosecutor of the Year, awarded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office-Nebraska
Certificate of Achievement for Women in Government

 

Revised October 2022