Nebraska District Court Judge James Doyle IV of Lexington, Nebraska, was invited to sit with the Nebraska Supreme Court on March 31, 2022. Doyle heard arguments in the case of State v. Ellis, S-21-0595. After being convicted of first degree murder, the appellant, Roy Ellis, seeks post-conviction relief and argues that his trial counsel failed to adequately challenge the DNA evidence that was used to convict him at trial. He sat in place of Chief Justice Mike Heavican, who was recused from the...Read more

A three-judge sentencing panel for State of Nebraska v. Roberto Silva, Jr., CR 22-54, in the District Court for Sarpy County has been named. Presiding Judge Nathan Cox requested the Chief Justice appoint two judges as panel members, in accordance with Nebraska statute. The judges, Michael Piccolo and Bryan Meismer were randomly selected from a statewide list of judges. Cox will serve as the presiding judge. Generally, hearings of the three judge panels occur in the same location as the original...Read more