John W. Ballew Jr.

John began private practice in Scottsbluff, Nebraska where he became partner in the firm of Simmons, Olsen, Ediger, Selzer & Ballew. P.C. In 1991, John moved back to Lincoln and became associated with Baylor, Evnen, Curtiss, Grimit & Witt. In 1995, John and M.J. Bruckner formed The Bruckner/Ballew Law Firm, P.C. before he and Vic Covalt decided to form this firm in 1999. Over the past thirty years, John has concentrated his trial practice in the areas of personal injury and complex and high asset divorce cases. He is one of only ten lawyers in Nebraska admitted to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is the only lawyer in Nebraska who is both a Fellow in the American Academy and Board Certified as a Family Law Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers In America since 2001. In 2007, he was recognized by SuperLawyers.com as one of the top lawyers in Nebraska. John coached two championship high school mock trial teams while in Scottsbluff. He also received the first Robert M. Spire Pro Bono Award given by the Nebraska Bar Association in 1986 for his efforts in representing low-income clients. He has chaired both the Family Law and Bankruptcy Sections of the Nebraska Bar Association and has been a frequent speaker at continuing education seminars on bankruptcy and divorce. In recent years he has spoken to the Nebraska County and District Court Judges Associations, the Nebraska Trial Lawyers Association and regularly speaks at the Annual Institute on the Survey of Nebraska law concerning recent legislative and case law developments in family law. On three occasions his work with state senators has resulted in significant changes in Nebraska law concerning divorce and bankruptcy. John has appeared before the Nebraska Supreme Court and Nebraska Court of Appeals more than 30 times in connection with appeals in the areas of divorce and family law, products liability, property taxation and personal injury. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees John W. Ballew Jr. included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Best Lawyers in America, 2001 - Present Recipient, Robert M. Spire Pro Bono Award, 1985 Other Sources of Feedback About John W. Ballew Jr. Included on the 2025Great Plains Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2023 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2022 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2021 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2020 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2019 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2018 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2017 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2016 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2015 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2014 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2013 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2012 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2011 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2010 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2009 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2008 Great Plains Super Lawyers list 2007 Great Plains Super Lawyers list

• Partner

• Simmons Olsen Law Firm, 1978 - 1991
• Baylor Evnen Curtiss Grimit and Witt, 1991 - 1995
• Bruckner/Ballew Law Firm, 1995 - 1999

• Annual Institute on the Survey of Nebraska Law, 2006 - 2009
• Advanced Issues in Divorce, Ballew/Slowiaczek Law Firms, 2004 - 2005
• Economic Issues in Family Law, Nebr. State Bar Association, 1995
• Bankruptcy & Divorce, Nebraska State Bar Association, 1992
• Evidentiary Problems in Divorce & Child Custody Litigation, Nebraska State Bar Association, 1991

• Reed v. Reed
• Citation: 275 Neb. 418, 747 NW2d 18
• Court: Supreme Court of Nebraska
• Year: 2008
• Camp v. Camp
• Citation: 14 Neb. App. 473, 709 NW2d 696
• Court: Neb. Ct. of Appeals
• Year: 2006
• Kay v. Ludwig
• Citation: 12 Neb. App.868, 686 NW 2d 619
• Court: Neb. Ct. of Appeals.
• Year: 2004
• Peter v. Peter
• Citation: 262 Neb. 1017, 637 NW2d 865
• Year: 2002
• Day v. Heller
• Citation: 10 Neb. App. 886, 639, NW 2d 158
• Citation: 264 Neb. 934, 653 NW 2d 475
• Kellner v. Kellner
• Citation: 8 Neb. App. 316, 593 NW2d 1
• Year: 1999
• Winslow v. Hammer
• Citation: 247 Neb. 418, 527 NW2d 631
• Year: 1995
• Ainsle v. Ainsle
• Citation: 4 Neb. App. 70, 538 NW2d 175
• Nebraska Annual Conference of the Unite Methodist Church v. Scottsbluff County Board of Equalization
• Citation: 243 Neb. 412, 499 N.W. 2d 543
• Court: Nebraska Supreme Court
• Year: 1993
• Marez v. Marez
• Citation: 27 Neb. 615, 350 NW2d 531
• Year: 1984
• Nerud v. Haybuster Mfg, Inc.
• Citation: 215 Neb. 604, 340 NW2d 369
• Year: 1983

• Nebraska, 1979
• U.S. District Court District of Nebraska, 1979
• U.S. Federal Courts, 1979
• Specialties and Certifications
• Family Law Trial Lawyer, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1996
• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1991

• American Bar Association
• Nebraska State Bar Association
• Lincoln Bar Association
• Nebraska State Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1987 - 1990 (Chairman)
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Phi Gamma Delta
• Phi Delta Phi