Hon. John E. Samson

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    1555 Colfax Street
    Blair
    Nebraska
    68008
    Phone
    (402) 426-6808
    Fax
    (402) 426-6821

    Hon. John E. Samson

    Judgeship

    2003 - present 
    Judge of the District Court, 6th Judicial District
    Burt, Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Thurston, & Washington counties
     
    2007 - 2010 
    Judge of the District Six Adult Drug Court, Dodge County

    Experience

    1998 - 2003
    Village Attorney
    Herman, NE
     
    1997 - 2003
    City Attorney
    Blair, NE
     
    1997 - 2003
    Village Attorney
    Washington, NE
     
    1997 - 2003
    Village Attorney
    Kennard, NE

     Special Prosecutor Appointments:
    1996, City of Omaha, NE
    1995, Burt County, NE
    1994, Burt County, NE

    1988 - 1997
    County Attorney
    Blair, NE
     
    1985 - 2003
    Samson Law Office
    Blair, NE
     
    1985 - 1987
    Deputy County Attorney - Washington County Attorney’s Office
     
    1983 - 1985
    Huntel Systems, Inc., corporate counsel
    Blair, NE
     
    1981 - 1983
    O’Hanlon Law Office, associate and then partner
    Blair, NE
     
    1979 - 1981
    O’Hanlon and Nelson Law Office, law clerk
    Blair, NE
      
     

    Education

    National Judicial College, 2007
         Death Penalty Litigation
    National Center For Justice, 2006
         University of Mississippi School of Law - Search & Seizure Law
    National District Attorney Association, Chicago, IL,  1990
         Prosecutor’s Trial Advocacy Course
    National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Lawrence, KS,  1986
         Intensive Trial Advocacy Program

    University of Nebraska College of Law, 1981 
    Juris Doctorate

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1978
    Bachelor of Science, Business Administration
     

    Judicial/Law Related Activities

    Professional Affiliations
    Nebraska State Bar Association
    American Bar Association
    Burt/Washington County Bar Association, 1981 - 2003 
    Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, 1985 - 2003
    Nebraska Land Title Association, 1985 - 2003
    Nebraska Licensed Title Insurance Agent, 1985 - 2003
    National District Attorney Association, past member
    Nebraska Licensed Real Estate Abstractor, past member
    Nebraska County Attorney Association, past member
     
    Nebraska State Bar/Local Attorney Association Committees
    Nebraska State Bar Association:
         Real Estate Practice & Title Standards Committee, board member, 1999 - 2003 
    Blair High School Mock Trial Team, coach, 2001-2002, 2004
    High School Mock Trial Program, Regional Coordinator for 6th Judicial District, 1991-1992, 2005-2007
    Judge for Local/Regional Competitions, 1990 - 2000
     
    Nebraska Supreme Court Committees
    Judicial Resources Commission, District Court Representative, 2010-present 
    Dispute Resolution Advisory Council, secretary, 2009 - present
    Office of Dispute Resolution, Advisory Council, 2008 - present
    Nebraska Parenting Act Fund Policy Committee, 2007 - present
    Nebraska Family Mediator Standards Committee, Mediator Approval Sub-Committee, 2007 - present
     
    Nebraska District Judges Association
    Court Reporters’ Committee, chairperson, 2008 - present
     
    Nebraska County Attorney’s Association
    Former member, 1985 - 1997 

    Community Activities

    Washington County Public Defender Policy Board, board member, 2002 - 2003
    Blair Youth Sports Complex Association, Inc., director, 1999 - 2003 
    Blair Area Chamber of Commerce:
         Legislative Committee, former director & member, 1987 - 2003 
    First Lutheran Church (ELCA), member, 1987 - present 

    Teaching & Publishing

    Lecture, “What Civil Court Judges Want You to Know,” National Business Institute, 2011
    Lecturer, Estate Planning & Probate Seminar, NE Continuing Legal Education, Inc., 2003
    Lecturer, Divorce Fundamentals Seminar, Nebraska State Bar Association, 2001
    Lecturer, County Attorney Seminar, Nebraska County Attorney’s Association, 1991