Scottsbluff and Rushville Nebraska Consortium of Tribal, State, and Federal Courts Engagement Sessions
MEDIA ADVISORY
The Nebraska Consortium of Tribal, State, and Federal Courts has invited Native American communities to share their thoughts and concerns about the court system in Nebraska at two Western Nebraska public engagement sessions (dates and times below).
WHO:
The Nebraska Consortium of Tribal, State and Federal Courts with facilitator Judge William Thorne, Jr. (ret.) of the Pomo Tribe.
WHAT:
Nebraska Tribal, State, and Federal Courts engagement with Native American community members.
WHEN:
March 23, 2020 – Scottsbluff
5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Lakota Lutheran Center
1200 E Overland
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
March 24, 2020 – Rushville
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Rushville American Legion VFW
206 Sprague St
Rushville, NE 69360
The Consortium of Tribal, State, and Federal Courts will convene two discussion sessions within proximity to Native American populations in Nebraska. Participants will be given the opportunity to share their experiences and perceptions of the Tribal, State, and Federal courts. The information gathered through the discussion sessions will help to inform the future work of the Consortium in facilitating communication and collaboration between court systems. The discussion sessions are promoted in partnership with the Tribes and include outreach to community leaders.
November 2019 sessions were held in Omaha, Niobrara, Macy, and Winnebago.
This public engagement initiative is designed to:
- Improve Native Americans’ public trust and confidence in the courts;
- Improve the state and federal courts’ confidence in and understanding of the tribal court system;
- Identify ways to address disparate treatment in the court system with a specific focus on addressing jurisdictional issues among the tribal, state and federal courts and law enforcement entities; and
- Improve judicial awareness and training regarding the realities faced by Native American populations in Nebraska.
Justice Stephanie Stacy noted, “By giving voice to our Native American communities and listening to the concerns of those who look to our tribal, state and federal courts to deliver swift, fair justice, we hope to improve the justice system in Nebraska and increase public trust and confidence in our courts.”
Nebraska Supreme Court approved creation of a Consortium on Tribal State and Federal Courts in August 2018 – the public engagement project is the first major undertaking of the Consortium. More information can be found on the Consortium on Tribal State and Federal Courts:
The Nebraska Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission is co-chaired by Supreme Court Justice Stephanie Stacy and Nebraska State Bar Association Executive Director Liz Neeley and is one of six national recipients of a National Center for State Courts Public Engagement grant.
For more information contact:
Janet Bancroft, Public Information Officer, Nebraska Judicial Branch
P: 402-471-3205| C: 402-429-7635
janet.bancroft@nebraska.gov