The Nebraska Supreme Court is seeking applicants for a county court judgeship in the 12th Judicial Court District that will be based in Alliance.

The judgeship will be moved from Rushville to Alliance.

Judge Charles Plantz of Rushville retired on December 31, 2011, and other judges have been hearing cases in Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and Sioux Counties for the past year.

The Scottsbluff Star-Herald reports that at a hearing earlier this month, members of the Nebraska Judicial Resources Commission determined that moving the judgeship may make it more attractive to potential applicants. Basing the judgeship in Box Butte County would also help position a judge directly in a county that continues to see its caseload numbers increase.

Members of the Judicial Nominating Commission, which is made up of 14 western Nebraska attorneys and laypersons, will consider the applicants for the position during a public hearing on Feb. 1. The hearing will be at the Box Butte County Courthouse in the district courtroom at 10 a.m. Feb. 1.

The Judicial Nominating Commission is charged with forwarding at least two names for consideration to Gov. Dave Heineman. Heineman makes the selection for the judgeship.

Completed applications may be submitted electronically or by hard copy and must be received no later than 5 p.m. CST, Friday, Jan. 11.