Judgeship

2013 - Present
Judge of the Court of Appeals, 1st Judicial District
Lancaster County

Experience

1993 - 2013
Perry Guthery Haase & Gessford, P.C., L.L.O.
Positions of Attorney and Shareholder

1998 - 1999
University of Nebraska College of Law
Adjunct Instructor

1992 - 1993
Nebraska Court of Appeals
Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Richard D. Sievers

1986 - 1989
Bader Rutter & Associates
Office Manager/Executive Assistant

1983 - 1985
Bellevue Public Schools
Creative Writing Coordinator and Instructor, Gifted Program

1981 - 1983
Mission Junior High School
English Teacher

1978 - 1980
Elkhorn Junior High School
English Teacher

Education

University of Nebraska College of Law, 1992
Juris Doctorate with Distinction

Kearney State College, 1977
B.A. Education, English

Judicial/Law Related Activities

Professional Affiliations

Nebraska State Bar Association, Member 1992-Present

Appellate Practice Section, Executive Committee, 2015-present
Annual Meeting Committee, 2006-2011; Planning Chair, 2006-2007
Women and the Law Section
Labor Relations & Employment Law Section, former member

American Bar Association, 1992-present
Lincoln Bar Association, Board of Trustees, 2000-2008; President, 2006-2007

Law Day Committee, Chair, 1999-2007

Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, former member
Office of Dispute Resolution Advisory Council, Term 2012-2013
Parenting Act Mediator, ODR Approved, 2010
Nebraska Mediation Association, 2011-2013
Nebraska Council of School Attorneys, President, 2003-2004
National Council of School Attorneys,(former member
UNL College of Law Alumni Council. 2004-2009; Executive Board, 2007-2009
Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court, Master of the Bench, Learned Hand Team, 2014-present
 

Nebraska Supreme Court Committees

Nebraska Supreme Court/NSBA Minority Justice Committee, 1999-2011; Co-Chair, Access to Justice Subcommittee, 1999-2011
Nebraska Supreme Court/NSBA Foundation, Law Related Education Subcommittee
Nebraska Supreme Court Committee on Practice and Procedure, 1998-present; Chair, 2014-present
Nebraska Judicial Resources Commission, 2004-2013
Nebraska Supreme Court Commission on Children in the Courts, Parenting Act Subcommittee, 2014-present; Temporary Hearings in District Court Subcommittee (Co-Chair, 2016-present)
Judicial Branch Education Advisory Committee, Chair, 2016-present

Honors and Awards

UNL College of Law National Moot Court Team, 1992

National Brief Writing Award
Regional, Best Oral Advocate
Regional, Best Brief Award

Order of Barristers, 1992

2000 Nebraska State Bar Foundation Fellow:
An honor based on integrity and character. The Foundation recognizes established legal professionals who are dedicated to improving the administration of justice. Fellows are accredited by colleagues as leaders of the legal profession who contribute to the charitable and community education works of the Foundation.

Warren K. Urbom Mentor Award, Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court (2018)

Outstanding Contributor to Women in Law Award, NSBA Women & the Law Section (2017)

Outstanding Civic Health Partner, Nebraskans for Civic Reform (2017)

Nebraska State Bar Association, Award of Appreciation, 2006

Government/Community Service

UNL College of Law, National Moot Court Team, volunteer judge
UNL College of Law, Grether Moot Court Competition, final round judge
Lincoln Bar Association, Law Day program, volunteer
UNL College of Law, Pre-Law Institute mentor, summer program for minority undergraduate students considering law school, 2004, 2005
Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, 2007-2013 (Commission Vice Chair, 2012-2013; Budget, Construction, and Financial Aid, Chair, 2012-2013)
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry Military Academy Advisory Committee
City of Lincoln, Procurement Appeals Board, 2011-2013
Nebraska Club Board of Directors, 2006-present; President, 2009-2012
Nebraska Affirmative Action Committee, 1997-2008; Chair, 2001-2008
American Red Cross, Lancaster County Board of Directors, 1995-1996

Teaching and Publishing

Author, De Novo on the Record for an Abuse of Discretion – What Does That Mean? The Nebraska Lawyer, July/Aug 2016
Author, A Few More Words on Appellate Briefs, The Nebraska Lawyer, Jan/Feb 2016
Presenter, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Pre-Law Club, 2018/2017
Guest panelist, UNL College of Law, American Constitution Society, February 2017|
Guest panelist, Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, Criminal Defense Boot Camp, View from the Bench, August 2016
Guest panelist, NSBA Family Law Update, temporary custody/support practices and procedures, July 2016
Guest speaker, Lincoln South Rotary Club, The Judicial Branch, June 2016
Presenter, Nebraska Federation of Women's Club, Sophomore Pilgrimage, The Judicial Branch, 2018/2017/2016
Keynote speaker, Concordia University’s Annual Woman in Business Luncheon, March 2016
Presenter, Concordia University government class, Appellate Courts, March 2016
Presenter, Falls City Lane Leadership Program, Appellate Courts, 2016/2015
Presenter, Hall County/Grand Island Leadership Tomorrow, The Judicial Branch, 2014-present
Presenter, Nebraskans for Civic Reform, teaching middle and high school students about the judicial branch, 2014-present
Guest panelist, UNL College of Law Black Law Student Association and Multicultural Legal Society Annual High School Diversity Day, careers in the law, 2015/2014
Guest panelist, UNL College of Law, Allen Moot Court program
Guest speaker, UNL College of Law, Ethics Class, Judicial Ethics, 2017/2016/2015
Presenter, NSBA Annual Meeting, The Importance of an Effective Brief: An Appellate Judge’s Perspective, October 2015
Presenter, UNL College of Law GAP Program, Family Law, Drafting Family Law Documents
Presenter, Nebraska Council of School Administrators & Nebraska Association of School Boards, Education Forum, Keynote Session panel Mock Board Meetings with Messages, February 2013
Presenter, Doane College Educational Leadership Program, on teacher evaluation and tenure laws, student rights and student discipline, students and First Amendment issues (speech and religion), 1996-2013
Presenter, Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, Unemployment Benefits: Addressing and Avoiding Potential Pitfalls, March 2012
Presenter, Nebraska State Education Conference, School Safety and Security, November 2011
Presenter, Nebraska Council of School Attorneys, School Law Seminar, Domestic Relations: Parent Wars in the Schoolhouse, June 2011
Presenter, Nebraska Association of School Boards, Back to the Basics of School Law, March 2011
Presenter, Nebraska State Education Conference, Legal Issues Involving Technology and Social Media, November 2010