The district courts are Nebraska’s general jurisdiction trial courts. This means that with a few exceptions, civil and criminal cases of all types may be commenced in and tried by the district courts. District courts also function as appellate courts in deciding appeals from various administrative agencies and from most county court cases. When acting as an appellate court, a district judge reviews the record of testimony and evidence from the county court or administrative agency in order to rule on the appeal.

Clerks of the District Courts

Each county in the State of Nebraska has a clerk of the district court performing the administrative duties associated with the court.  Nebraska law states that counties with 7,000 inhabitants are required to have a clerk of the district court elected by the voters.  In counties with less than 7,000 inhabitants, the county board and district judge determine whether there should be a clerk of the district court.  If the position of clerk of the district court does not exist in the county, the county clerk is the ex officio clerk of the district court.  Besides being the clerk of the district court, he or she also serves as the court’s administrative officer.