Judicial System

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Prosecutors, Judges

Paul Vaughan was appointed Dodge County Attorney was re-elected to a four-year term in November 2006. The Dodge County Attorney is assisted by Chief Deputy Stacey Hultquist and three other Deputy County Attorneys. The county attorney’s office is located in the Dodge County Courthouse, 435 N. Park Ave. The telephone number is 727-2725.

The Dodge County Attorney’s Office prosecutes all criminal and juvenile cases in Dodge County, and represents the county in various civil legal matters.

Dodge County Judge Kenneth Vampola and Sixth District Judge John Samson, have offices and courtrooms in the Dodge County Judicial Center, 428 N. Broad St.

Vampola handles probate matters, adoptions, juvenile matters, misdemeanors, civil cases dealing with sums up to $45,000 and preliminary hearings for felonies. He was appointed to the bench in February 2005. Lila Scheer is Dodge County Court Clerk-Magistrate. Vampola’s office can be reached at 727-2755.

Samson is one of three judges who oversee the state’s Sixth Judicial District, covering Dodge, Burt, Washington, Dakota, Thurston, Cedar and Dixon counties. He presides over felony criminal proceedings, domestic relations cases such as divorces, and orders for child support payments. He was appointed to the bench in 2003.

Linda Nelson is clerk of the district court. Samson’s office can be reached at 727-2780.

Probation, Restitution

Often those who commit crimes are sentenced to probation rather than jail time. That’s when the offender is likely to come into contact with the state’s 16th Probation District.

The probation office is located at 320 N. Main St. and can be reached at 727-2790.

Some first-time offenders are allowed to participate in the Dodge County Community Court Services Program instead of going to jail. Participants usually have been sentenced for minor misdemeanor charges.

Dawn Peters coordinates the program; her office is located across from the probation office at 219 E. Fourth St., 727-2795.

Judicial Center

The three-story Dodge County Judicial Center is at 428 N. Broad St.; 727-2707.

Doug Campbell is director of corrections at the 42-bed jail which is on the second floor.

The judicial center also houses the Dodge County Sheriff’s office, the jail kitchen and laundry facilities on the first floor.

Dodge County and Sixth Judicial District offices and courtrooms and a recreation area for inmates are on the third floor.