Gov. Heineman Appoints Leo Dobrovolny of Alliance to Twelfth Judicial District Judgeship

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman today announced his appointment of Leo Dobrovolny to serve as a district court judge for the Twelfth Judicial District of Nebraska, which includes the counties of Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux.

"Mr. Dobrovolny's experience in both the public and private sector will serve him well in this new role," Gov. Heineman said. "The fact that he has spent his entire legal career representing those in western Nebraska gives me confidence that his familiarity and expertise will benefit residents in this part of our state for years to come."

In addition to maintaining a private practice in Alliance for more than 20 years, Dobrovolny, 51, served as a deputy in the Box Butte County Attorney's Office from 1985 to 1988 and has served as city attorney for Alliance since 1989. Starting in 1980, he served in the Box Butte County Public Defender's Office while working as an attorney at Sampson and Forney, where he became a partner in 1982.

He was selected to serve as the special prosecutor in a grand jury investigation in 2005, and was chairman of the Box Butte County Mental Health Board from 1998 to 2003. In addition to his 27 years of legal experience, Dobrovolny has been a member of the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department since 1993, where he has held several leadership roles.

Dobrovolny said, "I am very excited to have this opportunity to continue my public service. I appreciate the Governor's confidence in me and the support I've received from the local community. As a judge, my first priority will be to fairly and efficiently administer the laws of Nebraska for all parties."

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wayne State College in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in history and political science, and received his law degree in 1980 from the Creighton University School of Law.