Gov. Dave Heineman announced on Oct. 6 his appointment of Richard A. Birch of North Platte to serve as a judge of the District Court for the 11th Judicial District.
Birch, 58, has practiced law for 32 years in Nebraska and currently serves as a partner at Neilsen and Birch Law Offices.
He has been a member of the Nebraska Bar Association since 1978.
Birch has served as an adjunct professor at Mid-Plains Community College, Chadron State College and the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and is a graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law.
The vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge John P. Murphy.