Attorneys preparing to appear before Judge Richard McGowan may want to plan for a late morning docket, as Douglas County's newest judge isn't known as a morning person.

McGowan was sworn in as judge of the Fourth Judicial District by Judge Horacio Wheelock Jan. 23. More than 100 people, including about 20 judges, attended the ceremony at the Douglas County Courthouse's legislative chambers.

The judge operated McGowan Law Firm for 18 years, focusing on criminal defense, juvenile law, personal injury and guardianship, among other legal areas.

"Rich is a very hard worker," said Mike Kennedy, a fellow attorney and friend. "He cares about his clients. He takes the time to research and prepare for his cases when he has an important sentencing, especially when he's in the federal court, writing his briefs, where he spends a lot of time now. I know sometimes he's not a morning person, but there are times when Rich is working until about one or two in the morning."

Knowing McGowan was interested in becoming a judge, Kennedy said he recommended he serve on the Douglas County Mental Health Board. He became the board’s chairperson.

Following the retirement of Judge Leigh Ann Retelsdorf, McGowan was one of four applicants for the position. In October, Governor Jim Pillen appointed McGowan to the Fourth Judicial District, which includes Douglas County.

Loretta Harvey, an Iowa attorney and McGowan's classmate at Creighton University's School of Law, knew she'd practice law with her father. Her priorities were different from other students.

"While most of my classmates were worried about their class rankings and where they would be interning, I was looking around the room and trying to figure out what smart person should be my study partner," she said.

McGowan's tendency to be tardy didn't deter her, Harvey said.

"Even though our contracts professor would insult him for being late to class, I still knew that Rich McGowan was super smart and that I needed to be buddies with him, and I needed to study with him," she said.

The two were more than study partners; they became lifelong friends, often spending hours on the phone catching up on each other's life, Harvey said.

The tenacity McGowan brought to the courtroom will continue as a judge, she said.

"We all know that Rich is very smart and a scholar of the law, he has also been in the practice of law, in the trenches, listening to clients, hearing their stories and advocating for them," Harvey said. "He understands people. He has common sense. As a judge, I firmly believe that he will bring to the courtroom a great balance. He will listen to the testimony, he will review the file. He will weigh the evidence. He will research the case law and he will apply the law."

As a judge in Nebraska's largest judicial district, with 18 judges, he understands the role he'll play, McGowan said.

"I look forward to helping out people in a new capacity now, and that's what this is about," he said. It's about serving people. It's about serving businesses, about serving the litigants in my court in the best way possible. And so this is a new way of doing it, a different way of doing it, but I'm looking forward to it."

Public service is an opportunity he doesn't take lightly, McGowan said.

"My reason for wanting to do this is I firmly believe that to whom much has been given, much is required," he said. "And I've been given a lot in my life. I've been given the gift of so many wonderful people who have helped and supported me and have been there."