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    Merrick County Problem-Solving Court Graduation

    Merrick County Problem-Solving Court Graduation

    September 26, 2023
    Ashley Fowler celebrated her graduation from Problem-Solving Courts on September 11, 2023, at the Merrick County Courthouse in Central City. The ceremony was attended by Hamilton and Merrick County board members, Senator Loren Lippincott, District 5 probation staff, friends, and family. Judge Rachel Daugherty presided. The day was a blend of laughter, tears, and reflection. It stood as a testament to Ashley’s commitment and effort invested in reaching this milestone. Fowler expressed, “I couldn...Read more

    Celebrating 50 Years of Language Access in Nebraska Courts: A Milestone of Inclusion and Justice

    Celebrating 50 Years of Language Access in Nebraska Courts: A Milestone of Inclusion and Justice

    September 20, 2023
    Op-ed by Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael G. Heavican The Nebraska Judicial Branch is commemorating the Legislature’s passage of Neb. Rev. Stat. §25-2401 - Interpreters; public policy. This milestone not only acknowledges our commitment to a fair and impartial legal system, but also highlights the need for continued progress and improvement to ensure deaf, hard of hearing, and limited English proficient (LEP) court users have access to our courts and probation services. Before the...Read more

    Nebraska's Emerging Adult Program Welcomed by National Audience

    Nebraska's Emerging Adult Program Welcomed by National Audience

    September 20, 2023
    Program Director of Adult Probation Services Eric Maly and Alternatives to Incarceration Specialist Marc Kohmetscher spoke at a national-level program on the importance of nonverbal communication when working with Emerging Adults (ages 18-25). The session was held during the August 2023 American Probation and Parole Association meeting. The presentation reinforced the importance of body language and facial expressions when working with individuals under supervision. Maly and Kohmetscher used...Read more

    Swearing-In Ceremony for Godemann Held in Richardson County Court

    Swearing-In Ceremony for Godemann Held in Richardson County Court

    September 19, 2023
    Bethany Godemann, Clerk Magistrate for the Richardson County Court in the 1st Judicial District, was formally sworn in on September 15, 2023, at a ceremony hosted by County Judge Richard Smith. Godemann works in the 1st Judicial District with fellow clerk magistrates Sherri Ullman of Beatrice; LaRita Weber of Tecumseh and Pawnee City; Mandy Klipp of Fairbury; Cassondra Buethe of Auburn; Angela Holtmeier of Hebron and Joshua McDougall of Wilber. Judges Richard Smith, Jeffrey Gaertig, and Linda...Read more

    New Online Learning Platform for Online Guardian & Conservator Education

    New Online Learning Platform for Online Guardian & Conservator Education

    September 19, 2023
    The Office of Public Guardian is excited to announce the launch of its new learning management system to support online Guardian & Conservator Education. The English version of the class launched on August 7, 2023, with the Spanish version of the class set to launch later this year pending translation updates. The OPG’s use of this new learning management system offers significant improvements to overall customer service: reduction of payment processing time, immediate access to the course...Read more

    Juvenile Probation Services Division Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022 Now Available

    Juvenile Probation Services Division Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022 Now Available

    September 18, 2023
    The Juvenile Probation Services Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation have now released the Annual Report for fiscal year 2022, which includes data from July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022. This year, there was a name change from the former, “Detailed Analysis” title in addition to juvenile justice data and progress, stories about district staff making an impact with youth, and the annual artwork contest winners. New this year is the addition of Fundamental Measures for...Read more

    Swearing-In Ceremony for Noack Held in Hamilton County Court

    Swearing-In Ceremony for Noack Held in Hamilton County Court

    September 18, 2023
    Carly Noack, Clerk Magistrate for Hamilton County Court in the 5th Judicial District, was formally sworn in during a ceremony held on September 13, 2023. The event was hosted by County Judge Lynelle Homolka. Noack replaced Clerk Magistrate Angela Lewandowski, who served the area as clerk magistrate for the previous 22 years. Noack works in the 5th Judicial District with fellow clerk magistrates Jodie Roberts of Osceola; Ellen Faltys of Schuyler; Sheila Beins of Seward; Diane Wagner of Wahoo;...Read more

    Everyday Heroes: Supreme Court Language Team Honored

    Language Access Team

    Everyday Heroes: Supreme Court Language Team Honored

    September 14, 2023
    The Language Access Operations Team: Adrian Hinojosa, Olivia Brockman, and Kari Corkle, ensured equal access to justice for court clients and witnesses with limited English proficiency in Nebraska in June 2023, despite facing an unexpected shortage of contract interpreters. Hinojosa and Brockman served as the primary in-person Spanish interpreters at Douglas and Sarpy County Courthouses, while also providing remote support to the entire state. Alongside Coordinator Kari Corkle, they worked...Read more

    Northeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court Graduation Celebrates Success

    Northeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court Graduation Celebrates Success

    September 5, 2023
    Northeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court proudly celebrated the graduation of Holly Andersen on September 1, 2023, at the Madison County Courthouse. Honorable James G. Kube presided, The event marked the culmination of an intensive program that encompassed comprehensive behavioral health treatment, intensive community supervision, and full accountability. Pictured above (from left to right): Honorable James G. Kube and graduate Holly Andersen. Drug courts, also known as problem-solving courts, offer...Read more

    Everyday Heroes: Winters Honored

    Winters

    Everyday Heroes: Winters Honored

    August 31, 2023
    When Judge Brown places a child at Boys Town Group Home, he and Court Reporter Denise Winters know the child will take a summer trip to Okoboji. Winters and the Judge offer a ‘deal’ to campers: If they write the Court a letter detailing the upcoming trip, and include what they hope to do on "vacation" along with a request for donations of snacks, Winters will make sure the goods are delivered. Thank you, Denise, for helping court youth learn the lost art of asking for help and putting pen to...Read more

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