NELIGH, Neb. — A judge with nearly a quarter-century of experience on the bench is set to retire.

On Monday, County Court Judge Donna Taylor of the 7th Judicial District announced her plans to retire on Feb. 11. She was appointed to her post in 2001 and serves Antelope, Cuming, Madison, Knox, Pierce, Stanton, and Wayne counties.

In her retirement letter to the governor, Taylor commended “the professional and loyal service of our Clerk Magistrates and court staff, both past and present," as well as noting "the professionalism and expertise of our attorneys and attorneys visiting our judicial district."

Now, the Judicial Resources Commission will hold a public hearing to determine if it’s in the state’s best interest to fill the open position. If a vacancy is determined, the Judicial Nominating Commission will start accepting nominations for the post.

Taylor had a distinguished career in the courtroom. She served as a member of Northeast Nebraska Juvenile Drug Court in Madison County, as presiding judge of the 7th Judicial District and as President of the Nebraska County Judges Association. She received the Nebraska Supreme Court Distinguished Judge Award for Service to the Community in 2013.

Taylor previously worked as a private practice attorney in Omaha and Neligh along with stints as city attorney in Elgin and county attorney in Antelope County.