Contact:          
Lorri Montgomery, Director of Communications
National Center for State Courts
757-259-1525                                        
lmontgomery@ncsc.org          

Nebraska Contact:
Janet R. Bancroft,  Nebraska Supreme Court Public Information Officer
402-471-3205
Janet.bancroft@nebraska.gov

National Summit on Pandemic Preparedness
May 22 – 24, 2019
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Hosted by the Nebraska Judicial Branch

Williamsburg, VA, – The nation’s state courts are holding a Summit on Pandemic Preparedness May 22 – 24, 2019, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Hosted by Nebraska Chief Justice Michael Heavican, the summit is bringing together state court chief justices and other court leaders, health officials, and members of the legislative and executive branches to discuss ways in which a pandemic outbreak will be addressed by the court system and other entities when the need arises.

The goal of the summit is to ensure all governmental agencies work together to effectively meet the needs of the public during a public health crisis. The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) is providing staff support. The State Justice Institute (SJI) is providing funding.

The media is invited to attend, but must register by contacting Lorri Montgomery, NCSC communications director, lmontgomery@ncsc.org or 757-259-1525.

Participants include:

• Teams of court leaders and representatives from the legislative and executive branches representing more than 30 states
• UNMC/Nebraska Medicine health professionals
• Representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
• Ebola survivors

Topics for the one-and-a-half day summit focus on legal issues that can arise from a pandemic, such as quarantines.

The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts.