LINCOLN — The state is moving closer to filling a judicial vacancy in Central Nebraska.

Gov. Jim Pillen’s office announced Wednesday that the Judicial Nominating Commission forwarded two nominees to the governor for consideration: Melodie Bellamy on Kearney and Tim Hoeft of Holdrege. The nominees are vying to become a district court judge for the 10th Judicial District, which includes Adams, Clay, Franklin, Harlan, Kearney, Nuckolls, Phelps and Webster counties.

Bellamy has been the Kearney County Attorney for nearly 12 years. Hoeft has been a county judge for the 10th Judicial District for 11 years. He was the county attorney for Phelps County before that.

The primary place of office for the selected judge will be either Hastings, Minden or Holdrege at the option of the appointed judge.

The vacancy follows the retirement of Hon. Terri Harder at the end of May. She served on the bench for nearly 25 years.