Nebraska District Court Judge Kevin McManaman of Lincoln, Nebraska, was invited to sit with the Nebraska Supreme Court on February 1, 2022.

McManaman heard arguments in the case of State v. Surber (S-20-0856) which is a direct appeal from a conviction and sentence for first degree murder. Surber has been sentenced to life in prison.

He sat in place of Justice Freudenberg, 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 1, 2022, oral arguments can be viewed on the Court’s archive.

Reporters:

• Judicial Profile for Judge Kevin McManaman
• Background on the Supreme Court
• Justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court

Screen shot from argument session on Nebraska Public Media:

(L to R) Justice Jonathan Papik, Justice Stephanie Stacy, Judge Kevin McManaman, Chief Justice Mike Heavican, Justice William Cassel, Justice Jeff Funke, with Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman participating via video conferencing. Arguing before the Court is attorney Todd Lancaster. Recording Court arguments is Allyson Stewart.