The Nebraska Supreme Court has approved amendments to the Expanded News Media Coverage in Nebraska Trial Courts rules as of March 10, 2021. The revisions come four years after the effective date of the original camera rules. Revisions include: 

• Defining “Conference” as any communication between lawyers and others. Also includes a prohibition on photography of attorney notepads or screens.
• Adds a provision for renewal of credentials (allowing the administrative office to issue time-limited credentials) and adds language for credentialed media to “demonstrate proficiency” regarding rules.
• Allows for administrative revocation of credentials in addition to judicial revocation and eliminates the requirement for the use of “contempt of court.”
• Provides general language clean-up and paragraph reorganization. 

The rules were reviewed, approved, and submitted on behalf of the Expanded Media Rule Review Committee, which includes: Justice Jeff Funke; Judge Todd Hutton; Judge Linda Bauer; Judge Rick Schreiner; Judge Tom Otepka; Judge Leigh Ann Retelsdorf; Judge Gary Randall, Ret., and Judge Holly Parsley.

• Complete rule edits: Article 20: Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage in Nebraska Trial Courts.

• PDF copy of the revised Expanded News Media Coverage without edits:

• Read the article in Omaha Daily Record: State Supreme Court Announces Changes To Rules Governing Enhanced Coverage