The Chief Justice devotes several days each summer traveling outside the Lincoln area to meet with judges, court and probation staff, and to observe local programs and services.  The 2017 summer tour will take the Chief, key court staff, and select judges and justices to the southwestern portion of the state on the last day of July and into early August.

Some of the highlights of the tour will include:

• Meeting with court officials in Aurora and visiting with participants and team members in the 5th Judicial District Problem-Solving Court;
• A tour of the probation reporting center in Grand Island along with visits to the courthouse and probation offices;
• A Chancellor’s breakfast at University of Nebraska – Kearney to celebrate the launch of the Rural Legal Outreach Program and the various ways in which the college prepares future generations to participate in professions supporting the Judicial Branch;
• A tour of KNOP television in North Platte;
• Events with local bar members in Grand Island, McCook and North Platte locations;
• Presentation of a “Lifetime Achievement” award to Ron Werkmeister in Stockville who, for many years, has served both the county and district courts;
• A visit to the Department of Correctional Services in York to discuss probation’s post-release supervision and the system of probation navigators.

The purpose of summer tours is to enhance intra-branch communication through regular contact with courts and probation across the state.  

The full travel schedule is posted on the Judicial Branch INTRANET (must be logged-in to view).