Access to Justice Commission

Access to Justice Commission

Origin/Authorization: March 22, 2017 Supreme Court Minutes.

Terms: Two and four year terms.

Purpose Statement: To promote the Nebraska Supreme Court’s goal of providing equal access to swift, fair justice for all Nebraskans regardless of income, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, age or language. 

Access to Justice Commission Programs & Services Webpage

Name Representation Appointment Date Term Expires

Justice Stephanie Stacy, Co-Chair

Reappointed 5-19-21

Nebraska Supreme Court Justice

05/17/2017

05/19/2025

Elizabeth Neeley, Co-Chair

Reappointed 6-12-19

Nebraska State Bar Association Executive Director

05/17/2017

05/17/2023

Judge Frankie Moore

Reappointed 5-19-21

Nebraska Court of Appeals Judge 05/17/2017 05/19/2025
Judge Stefanie Martinez District Court Judge, 2nd Judicial District 06/12/2019 05/17/2023
Judge Andrea D. Miller District Court Judge, 4th Judicial District 1/13/2021 1/13/2024

Judge Derek Vaughn

Reappointed 5-19-21

County Court Judge, 4th Judicial District 05/17/2017 05/19/2025
Judge Chad Brown Juvenile Court Judge, Separate Juvenile Court of Douglas County 06/12/2019 05/17/2023
Judge Patrick R. Runge Tribal Judge, Ponca and Winnebago Tribal Courts 1/13/2021 1/13/2024

Doug Peterson

Reappointed 5-19-21

Attorney General  05/17/2017 05/19/2025

Joe Nigro

Reappointed 6-12-19

Public Defender, Lancaster County 05/17/2017 05/17/2023

Kenny Jacobs

Reappointed 6-12-19

Attorney , Omaha 05/17/2017 05/17/2023
Kenneth Wentz Attorney, Omaha 05/19/2021 05/19/2025

Senator Justin Wayne

Reappointed 5-19-21

State Senator, District 13

05/17/2017

05/19/2025

Paul McGreal

Reappointed 5-19-21

Creighton University School of Law 05/17/2017 05/19/2025

Prof. Stefanie Pearlman

Reappointed 5-19-21

Professor, Schmid Law Library/Nebraska College of Law 05/17/2017 05/19/2025

Prof. Kevin Ruser

Reappointed 6-12-19

University of Nebraska College of Law Professor 05/17/2017 05/17/2023

Tania Diaz

Reappointed 6-12-19

Legal Services Director, Disability Rights

05/17/2017

05/17/2023

Laurel Heer Dale Executive Director, Legal Aid of Nebraska 05/01/2023 05/01/2025
Casey Karges Mediation Center, Lincoln 4/7/2021 5/17/2023

Jose J. Soto

Reappointed 6-12-19

Community Representative 

05/17/2017

05/17/2023

Tina DeVoe District Court Clerk, 11th Judicial District 05/19/2021 05/19/2025
Sharmin Gonzales County Court Clerk, 9th Judicial District 06/12/2019 05/17/2023

Corey Steel

Reappointed 5-19-21

State Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation 05/17/2017 05/19/2025
Amy Prenda Deputy State Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation 1/13/2021 1/13/2024

Deborah Minardi

Reappointed 5-19-21

Probation Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation 02/20/2019 05/19/2025
Kathleen Valle Language Acess Program Director, Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation 1/1/2023 1/1/2024

Kelly Varguez

Reappointed 6-12-19

Court Interpreter Representative, Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation 05/17/2017 05/17/2023