LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has denied unemployment benefits to a former Howard County attorney who was appointed to fill a vacancy, but lost his position when another lawyer was elected to the office.

The court released a ruling Friday that says Robert Sivick was not eligible because he served in a major advisory or policy-making position without tenure.

According to the ruling, Howard County hired Sivick as its interim county attorney in 2007. Sivick ran for the office in 2010, and lost. He filed for unemployment benefits, but the Nebraska Department of Labor denied his claim.

Sivick now works as Grand Island’s city attorney. He also is a former Omaha City Council member and member of the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.