Nebraska District Court Judge J Russell Derr of Omaha, Nebraska, was invited to sit with the Nebraska Supreme Court on February 2, 2022.

Derr heard arguments in the case of Florence Lake Investments v. Berg (21-350). In this garnishment action, the district court found Zoetis as Plan Administrator was not liable as garnishee and declined to enter judgment against Zoetis.

 He sat in place of Justice Jonathan Papik who was recused from the case. The Court session was held in the Supreme Court Courtroom of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.

Seven justices make up the Nebraska Supreme Court: Chief Justice Mike Heavican and six associate justices. On occasion, a justice must recuse him or herself from a case, and a judge from a district court or the Court of Appeals is asked to sit with the Supreme Court.    

The February 2, 2022, oral arguments can be viewed on the Court’s archive.

Reporters:

• Judicial Profile for Judge J Russell Derr
• Background on the Supreme Court
• Justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court

Screen shot from argument session on Nebraska Public Media:

(L to R), Justice Stephanie Stacy, Judge J Russell Derr, Chief Justice Mike Heavican, Justice William Cassel, Justice Jeff Funke, Justice John Freudenberg, with Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman participating via video conferencing. Arguing before the Court is attorney John Zimmer. Recording Court arguments is Allyson Stewart.