The Nebraska Judicial Branch is hosting a national summit on pandemic preparation in Spring of 2019 which will coincide with the opening of The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s National Center for Health Security and Biopreparedness.

The summit will bring together health officials, chief justices, court administrators and members of the legislative and executive branches across the nation to discuss ways in which a pandemic outbreak will be addressed by the court system and other entities, should the need arise. The goal is for all governmental agencies to work together to effectively meet the needs of the public during a time of public health crisis. 

The Nebraska Judicial Branch recently completed a bench book for judges and courts when facing the challenges of a pandemic outbreak. The writing of the bench book led to a partnership between Nebraska judges and administrators of UNMC’s National Center for Health Security and Biopreparedness.

State Court Administrator Corey Steel noted, “The relationships built between judges and UNMC have been invaluable. Thanks to the administrators and doctors at UNMC, we have been able to clearly identify ways in which a public health crisis could impact Nebraskans.  We want to share that knowledge with others.” Steel continued, “A special thanks to Dr. Jeffrey Gold UNMC Chancellor, District Judge Leigh Ann Retelsdorf and Administrator for Attorney Services Carole McMahon-Boies, for their tireless work on this project.”

Invitations to the summit will be issued in late December 2018; the summit will be held May 22-24, 2019.

The summit is funded through a grant award from the State Justice Institute.