Kenneth Vampola
Kenneth J. Vampola was an American district judge. He served in the Sixth District County Court (covering Burt, Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Thurston and Washington counties) in Nebraska from 2005 to 2022.[1][2]
Biography[edit]
Aged 36, Vampola graduated from the Nebraska College of Law in 1992, then worked as a tribal prosecutor for four years.[3] He was a tribal judge undertaking civil and criminal defense cases in Fremont and Arlington before chairing the Nebraska Parole Board under Governor Mike Johanns in the early 2000s.[3]
Vampola was appointed as a judge to the sixth district in 2005 by acting Governor Dave Heineman. He resigned suddenly on September 2, 2022[4] following ethical violations connected to his relationship with a serial drug addict.[3] Newspaper reports also highlighted pre-appointment concerns about his behaviour in 1989,[3] and involvement in a 2020 case involving a long time friend, Dodge County attorney Oliver Glass.[5]
Vampola contributes to the Nebraska Minority and Justice Task Force as a committee member.[6] He is also the former Chair for the Nebraska Board of Parole[7][8] and has served on the Nebraska Community Corrections Council and Governor's Substance Abuse Work Team.[6]
Professional ethical concerns[edit]
In 2005, when Vampola had been nominated as a candidate for the District 6 judgeship, a letter was sent to the Nebraska Supreme Court and Judicial Nominating Commission by a citizen who was concerned with the nomination.
The letter mentioned an incident that took place on September 27, 1989 when Vampola was a law student. Vampola and a friend were pestering two dancers at a strip club in Fremont and offered the dancers money for sexual acts. After the two women left the club in a vehicle, Vampola and his friend followed them. While trying to get the women's attention, Vampola lost control of the vehicle and wrecked.
Vampola told police he was having issues driving the vehicle (as it belonged to the friend he was with). He was cited for reckless driving.[3]
In 2020, ethical questions arose about why Vampola oversaw a case that involved Dodge County attorney, Oliver Glass, who Vampola had known for over a decade and had a close friendship with. The case was the result of an incident on April 21, 2020 where Glass had been assaulted outside of a Fremont gas station. Vampola eventually recused himself from the case but only after signing off on a warrant to arrest the man suspected of assaulting Glass and raising the initial bail limit.[5]
The Nebraska Judicial Code of Ethics, Section§ 5-302.11, states:
"A judge shall disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding which the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including by not limited to…the judge has a personal bias."[9]
Reference[edit]
- ↑ "Kenneth Vampola". ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ↑ "State of Nebraska Judicial Branch, District 6". supremecourt.nebraska.gov. Nebraska Supreme Court. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Cooper, Todd (September 11, 2022). "Dodge County judge's sudden resignation followed relationship with meth user". journalstar.com. Nebraska: Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Dodge County Court Judge leaving the bench in Sept. 2". Fremont Tribune. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cooper, Todd (June 8, 2020). "Dodge County attorney investigated after estranged wife's boyfriend loses job, is committed". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Nebraska Minority and Justice Task Force/Implementation". 1 Library. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ↑ "The Nebraska Minority and Justice Implementation Committee Progress Report 2004". University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ↑ "About". Nebraska Board of Parole. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ↑ "State of Nebraska Judicial Branch". supremecourt.nebraska.gov. Nebraska Supreme Court. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
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