Appointed By: Gov. David E. Heineman
The Hon. Russell W. Harford (Ret.) served as a judge for the Dawes County Court in Nebraska. Harford was appointed to the bench by former Governor Dave Heineman in 2009. He retired on August 31, 2022.
Harford earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland (1975) and a master’s degree from Chadron State College (1983). He then completed a J.D. at the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1987.
He is licensed to practice in Nebraska (1988) and the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska (1988).
After graduating from law school, Harford entered into private practice alongside Bevin Bump in Chadron. He worked in that capacity for a few years, supplementing his practice with service as a deputy county attorney for the Box Butte County Attorney’s Office. He subsequently joined Marty Connealy and George Watson. He worked alongside the two attorneys for the next twenty-one years.
His memberships have included the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Committee on Self-Represented Litigation and its County Court Forms Committee.
He is a recipient of the Distinguished Judge for Service to the Community Award from the Nebraska Supreme Court (2016).
Born and raised in Lead, South Dakota, Harford became a dispatcher for the Lead Police and Fire Department after graduating from high school. He later worked as a topper with the Nebraska State Patrol, holding assignments in Lincoln, Gordon, and Chadron. When not presiding over legal proceedings, he enjoys fishing.
| Current Appointment Dawes County Court | Dawes County Court |
|
Education
J.D., University of Nebraska College of Law - 1987 M.A., Chadron State College - 1983 B.S., University of Maryland - 1975 |
J.D., University of Nebraska College of Law - 1987 M.A., Chadron State College - 1983 B.S., University of Maryland - 1975 |
| Current Court: | NE - Dawes County Court |
|---|
| Role | Employer | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney | Private Practice | Dawes County, Nebraska |
| Judge | Dawes County Court | Dawes County, Nebraska |
Martindale: Judge Profile: Hon. Russell W. Harford
State of Nebraska Judicial Branch: County Court Judge Russell Harford to Retire August 31
Ballotpedia: Russell Harford
The Chadron Record: County Court Judge Harford Retires
For full print and download access, please subscribe at https://www.trellis.law/.
