News

News

December 7, 2022
Following two hours of writing and an hour of observing student attorneys argue their case, Perkins County High School student Dayami Ruiz won top honors in the Nebraska High School Mock Trial 2022 News Reporting Competition. Ruiz spent the morning of December 5, 2022, listening to her school’s team argue the first round of the Nebraska Mock Trial championship at the Federal Courthouse in Omaha, NE. Before the day ended, United States Magistrate Judge Susan Bazis announced Ruiz as the first-...Read more
December 5, 2022
On November 16, 2022, a reception celebrating the retirement of Judge Robert R. Otte was held at the Lancaster County District Court. The reception was attended by Lancaster County Judges, Probation Officers, Problem-Solving Court team members, and family and friends. Judge Otte was gifted a plaque that included a poem written by a Veterans Treatment Court participant: Second Chance Some days far past I try to remember, for those I do I want to forget. Things said, things done, I just cannot...Read more
December 2, 2022
On November 28, 2022, the Sarpy County Reentry Court held a graduation ceremony and celebration at the Sarpy County Courthouse in Papillion. Judge Stefanie Martinez presided over the ceremony. Also in attendance were Sarpy County Attorney Tyler Loontjer and Public Defender Christopher Lathrop The ceremony marks the completion of an intensive program of comprehensive drug treatment, close supervision, and full accountability for Reentry Court graduate, Dale. Pictured (left to right) are...Read more
December 1, 2022
Nebraska District Court Judge Kimberly Miller Pankonin of Omaha, Nebraska, was invited to sit with the Nebraska Supreme Court on December 1, 2022. Pankonin heard arguments in the case of State of Nebraska v. Karl J. Dailey. She sat in place of Justice John R. Freudenberg, who was recused from the case. In this case, the district court affirmed the county court’s conviction and $750 fine after finding the Appellant, the Sheriff of Dawes County, guilty of official misconduct for failing to accept...Read more
Heroes award
December 1, 2022
Melissa Ireland, Court Education Director, and Jezharela Arteaga, Judicial Branch Education Trainer, dedicate themselves daily to making sure court staff are adequately equipped with the tools needed for their roles. As the State’s JUSTICE trainers, Ireland and Arteaga work closely with staff and Trial Court Services to coordinate training for employees across the state. Recently, at the request of the Lancaster County Court, the pair scheduled additional days so that an unusually large number...Read more
November 30, 2022
Nebraska has fifteen new senators with varying degrees of experience in the legal field. Trial court judges from across the state are poised to add to the new senator’s knowledge base by welcoming them into their courtrooms through the Judicial-Legislative Visit Program, established in 1999. During the program, new senators are invited to visit local trial courts to observe first-hand how area courts operate. The program’s significance is that it gives members of the legislature a better...Read more
November 30, 2022
The Judicial Branch Annual Report for Fiscal Year July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, is now available online. The report will be presented to the legislature during the Chief Justice’s annual “State of the Judiciary” in January 2023. The report is found in the Publications section of the Judicial Branch Website: Annual Report Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts & Probation FY22Read more
November 30, 2022
The Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation would like to express appreciation for the following District Court Clerks and Ex-Officio Clerks of the District Court who have moved, or are moving, to other life adventures. Each has provided dedicated service to the people and courts of Nebraska. Thank you all. Lisa Cross, Banner County Sharon Mauler, Buffalo County Barbara Prokupek Cass County Debra Clark, Chase County Debra Hume, Cheyenne County Mary Bailey, Colfax County Lisa Wagner,...Read more
November 30, 2022
The Lancaster County Adult Drug Court held a graduation ceremony and celebration on November 21, 2022. For the six graduates, the ceremony marks the completion of an intensive program of comprehensive behavioral health treatment, intensive community supervision, and full accountability. Presiding Adult Drug Court Judge Andrew Jacobsen (pictured) hosted the ceremony along with Judge John Colborn (retired). Several distinguished guests attended, including US Congressman Representative Mike Flood...Read more
Thanksgiving Closure Notice
November 21, 2022
Court and Probation offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 24th and 25th, 2022.Read more

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