Supreme Court Commission on Children in the Courts
Origin/Authorization: Consultation Minutes of December 22, 2004
Terms: Initial appointments to be at the pleasure of the Court. Members appointed after February 21, 2008, shall be appointed to 3-year terms.
Purpose Statement: The commission will study and recommend appropriate steps for the judicial system to undertake to ensure that the courts are as responsive as possible for children who interact with or are directly affected by the courts.
| Name, City | Composition | Appointment Date | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
Hon. Francie Riedmann, Gretna Reappointed 10-7-20, reappointed 11-8-23 | Co-Chairperson, Appellate Judge | 10-18-17 | 12-31-26 |
| Hon. Roger Heideman, Lincoln | Co-Chairperson, Separate Juvenile Judge, Lancaster County | 11-19-19 | 12-31-25 |
| Hon. Michael G. Heavican, Lincoln (ex-officio) | Chief Justice, Nebraska Supreme Court | 11-15-06 | Permanent |
Hon. Stefanie Martinez Reappointed 11-18-17, 10-7-20, 11-8-23 | District Judge, 2nd Judicial District | 11-12-15 | 12-31-26 |
| Hon. Molly Keane, Omaha | District Judge, 4th Judicial District | 1-8-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Hon. Andrea Miller, Gering | District Judge, 12th Judicial District | 11-8-23 | 12-31-26 |
Hon. Michael Piccolo, North Platte Reappointed 11-12-15, 10-24-18, 10-20-21, 10-16-24 | District Judge, 11th Judicial District | 10-16-13 | 12-31-27 |
Hon. Linda Bauer, Fairbury Reappointed 10-16-24 | County Judge, 1st Judicial District | 10-20-21 | 12-31-27 |
Hon. Thomas Harmon, Omaha Reappointed 9-29-10, 10-16-13, 10-19-16, 11-19-19 | County Judge, 4th Judicial District | 2-21-08 | 12-31-25 |
| Hon. Ross Stoffer, Madison | County Judge, 7th Judicial District | 11-19-19 | 12-31-25 |
Hon. Anne Paine, McCook Reappointed 10-17-12, 11-12-15, 10-24-18, 10-20-21, 10-16-24 | County Judge, 11th Judicial District | 3-18-09 | 12-31-27 |
Hon. Randin Roland, Sidney Reappointed 9-29-10, 10-16-13, 10-19-16, 11-19-19 | County Judge, 12th Judicial District | 2-21-08 | 12-31-25 |
Hon. Mary Stevens, Omaha Reappointed 10-16-24 | Separate Juvenile Judge, Douglas County | 10-20-21 | 12-31-27 |
Hon. Matthew Kahler Reappointed 10-20-21, 10-16-24 | Separate Juvenile Judge, Douglas County | 10-7-20 | 12-31-27 |
| VACANT | Separate Juvenile Judge Lead Judge for the Through the Eyes of the Child teams | ||
Hon. Patrick Runge, Winnebago Reappointed 3-18-09, 10-17-12, 11-12-15, 10-24-18, 10-20-21 | District Judge, Winnebago Tribal Court | 12-29-04 | 12-31-24 |
| Sen. George Dungan, Lincoln | State Senator, District 26 | 11-8-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Sen. Carolyn Bosn, Lincoln | State Senator, District 25 | 4-17-24 | 12-31-25 |
| Jennifer Carter, Lincoln | Child Welfare Inspector General | 10-7-20 | Permanent |
| Mary Jo Pankoke, Lincoln | Co-Director, Governor's Task Force & Commission on the Protection of Children | 12-29-04 | Permanent |
| Dr. Alyssa Bish | Health and Human Services Representative | 5-15-24 | Permanent |
| Corrie Kielty | Director, Nebraska CASA | 3-13-13 | Permanent |
| Monika Gross, Lincoln | Executive Director, Foster Care Review Office | 5-06-20 | Permanent |
Misty (Frazier) Flowers, Bloomfield Reappointed 10-20-21 | Executive Director, ICWA Coalition | 10-24-18 | 12-31-24 |
Ivy Svoboda, Omaha Reappointed 10-20-21, 10-16-24 | Executive Director, Nebraska Alliance of Child Advocacy Centers | 10-24-18 | 12-31-27 |
| Sarah Helvey, Lincoln | Program Director, Nebraska Appleseed Center for the Law | 3-18-09 | Permanent |
| Dr. Brian Maher | Department of Education REpresentative | 11-8-23 | Permanent |
| Juliet Summers | Executive Director, Voices for Children in Nebraska | 1-1-23 | Permanent |
| Hazell Rodriguez | Legal Aid of Nebraska | 1-1-23 | Permanent |
| Liz Neeley, Lincoln | Executive Director, Nebraska State Bar Association | 10-19-14 | Permanent |
Elizabeth A. F. Waterman, Lexington Reappointed 3-18-09, 10-17-12, 11-12-15, 10-24-18, 10-20-21 | County Attorney, Dawson County | 1-05-05 | 12-31-24 |
Chris Reid, Lincoln Reappointed 10-16-24 | Deputy County Attorney, Lancaster County | 5-31-23 | 12-31-27 |
Mandi Amy, Kearney Reappointed 10-7-20, 11-8-23 | Deputy County Attorney | 10-18-17 | 12-31-26 |
CJ Roberts, Lincoln Reappointed 10-16-24 | Attorney, Health and Human Services | 1-1-23 | 12-31-27 |
| Kathy Olson, Lincoln | Attorney, UNL Center on Children, Families, and the Law | 10-12-11 | Permanent |
Tana Fye, Holdrege Reappointed 10-7-20, 11-8-23 | Attorney, Guardian ad Litem | 10-18-17 | 12-31-26 |
Christine Costantakos, Omaha Reappointed 9-29-10, 10-16-13, 10-31-16, 11-19-19 | Attorney | 2-21-08 | 12-31-25 |
| Audrey Long, Sidney | Attorney | 11-8-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Lisa Gonzalez, Omaha | Attorney | 11-8-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Claire Bazata, Cozad | Attorney | 11-8-23 | 12-31-26 |
Michaela Skogerboe, Omaha Reappointed 10-16-24 | Attorney | 10-20-21 | 12-31-27 |
Dr. Kirk Newring, Papillion Reappointed 10-7-20, 11-8-23 | Psychologist | 10-18-17 | 12-31-26 |
| Maralee Bradley | Foster and Adoptive Parent Representative | 1-1-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Jamie Legates | Foster and Adoptive Parent Representative | 1-1-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Stephanie Branham | Parent Representative | 1-1-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Andrea Evans | Parent Representative | 1-1-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Jordan Bocock | Youth Representative | 11-8-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Lina Renteria | Youth Representative | 5-15-24 | 5-15-27 |
| Jacob Mckirdy | Youth Representative | 5-15-24 | 5-15-27 |
| Destiny Ellis | Youth Representative | 5-15-24 | 5-15-27 |
| Corey Steel, Lincoln (ex-officio) | State Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation | 5-21-15 | Permanent |
| Deborah Minardi, Lincoln | Probation Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation | 5-15-19 | Permanent |
| Kari Brumbaugh, Lincoln | Deputy Probation Administrator for Juvenile Services | 11-8-23 | 12-31-26 |
| Darla Johnson | MCLE Director | 11-8-23 | 12-31-26 |
Note: members without a term expiration are permanent.