The Nebraska State Bar Association released the 2024 Judicial Performance Evaluation on Friday recommending retaining 99% of the 142 judges it reviewed. In Gage County, association members voted in favor of retaining both District Court Judge Rick Schreiner (72.22% yes votes) and County Court Judge Jeffrey Gaertig (89.29%). Association members also voted in favor of retaining Schreiner's fellow District Court 1 Judges David Bargen in Wilber and Julie Smith in Tecumseh. They did the same with Gaertig's fellow judges in County Court 1, Linda Bauer in Fairbury and Richard Smith in Auburn. Gaertig and Bauer are the only area judges facing retention votes this year.
