Supreme Court Call

Supreme Court Call

Oral arguments before Nebraska’s Appellate Courts can be viewed live from Nebraska Public Media’s Live & On Demand: State Government website.

Below is a list of cases that will be called for hearing during the session of the Nebraska Supreme Court commencing April 1, 2025. Hearings will occur in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the State Capitol on April 1st and 3rd.  Hearings will occur at the Creighton University School of Law and Omaha Bryan High School on April 2nd. The case summaries linked to each case are provided to the public by the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals and are for informational purposes only; nothing is to be construed as a factual finding or legal conclusion of the court.

When placed upon the final call, cases will not be continued except on motion and for urgent necessity shown.

Unless otherwise indicated, the time allotted for the presentation of arguments is limited to 10 minutes per side. This is a maximum allowance and counsel are not required to use the allotted time.

During oral argument, when the timing light changes from green to amber, you are into your rebuttal time, which is 2 minutes, unless you have reserved a greater or lesser time.  However, whatever rebuttal time you have asked to be reserved, your only notification will be the amber light.  If you continue arguing after the amber light, and the red light appears, you are completely out of time and have waived rebuttal.

Parties must review the administrative order issued by Chief Justice Heavican on February 8, 2023, prior to attending oral argument.  Said administrative order can be found here.

Each case is subject to call for argument at 9:00am.  Accordingly, attorneys and pro se parties appearing for argument must sign in at the Clerk’s Office no lather than 8:45am or at the designated location at the Creighton School of Law no later than 9:00am on their scheduled day.  Those appearing for argument at Omaha Bryan High School must sign in no later than 1:00 pm.

Lincoln subject to call at
Supreme Court Courtroom, State Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska
Case Number Case Name County
S-24-0467 Clement v. Saunders
 Dawson
S-24-0357 County of Hayes, Nebraska v. County of Frontier, Nebraska
 Frontier
S-24-0670 State v. Mais
 Kearney
S-24-0738 State v. Bret
 Douglas
Creighton subject to call at
Room 124, Gross Appellate Court Room, Ahmanson Law Center, Creighton University, 21st & Cass Street, Omaha, Nebraska.
Case Number Case Name County
S-24-0487 Belcastro-Gonzalez v. City of Omaha
 Douglas
S-24-0455 Merithew v. City of Omaha
 Douglas
S-24-0673 Ballheim v. Settles
 Johnson
Bryan High School subject to call at
Bryan High School, 4700 Giles Rd, Omaha, NE
Case Number Case Name County
S-24-0567 Fey v. Olson
 Otoe
Lincoln subject to call at
Supreme Court Courtroom, State Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska
Case Number Case Name County
S-24-0503 Nebraska Firearm Owners Association v. City of Lincoln, Nebraska
 Lancaster
S-24-0618 State v. Jones
 Douglas
S-24-0504 State v. Lopez
 Lancaster
S-24-0402 State v. Strawn
 Sarpy

* * *    Special time limits previously established.

SIGN-IN:  Each case is subject to call for argument at 9:00 am. Accordingly, attorneys and pro se parties appearing for argument must sign in at the Clerk’s Office no later than 8:45 am or at the Creighton School of Law Auditorium no later than 9:00 am on their scheduled day. Those appearing for argument at Omaha Bryan High School must sign in no later than 1:00 pm.

Please note, that the order in which cases are called for oral argument on a particular day may change due to recusals or scheduling conflicts brought to the Court’s attention after the scheduling notices have been provided to the parties.  

If auxiliary aids or reasonable accommodations are needed for attendance at this hearing, please call the State Court Administrator's Office, at (402) 471-3730, or for persons with hearing impairments, please call the Nebraska Relay System, (800) 833-7352 TDD or (800) 833-0920 Voice.  Advance notice of seven days is needed when requesting an interpreter.

Lincoln, March 7, 2025
Joshua R. Shasserre, Clerk.
 

 

NOTICE
 

Security

When oral arguments are scheduled, admittance to the courtrooms of the Nebraska Supreme Court and Nebraska Court of Appeals is permitted only upon compliance with security requirements.  Before entering the courtrooms you will be required to walk through a metal detecting device.  Personal items, such as brief cases and purses, will be inspected by security personnel on duty.  Therefore, it would be helpful not to bring unnecessary materials to oral arguments.

Entering and exiting the courtroom

Entering and exiting the courtroom is limited to the following time periods:

  • before and after the court session.
  • when a recess is taken by the court.
  • between cases when attorneys are changing places.

Restrictions

  • Under no circumstances are food or drinks to be taken into the courtroom.  Hats and caps shall be removed.
  • Except for assigned oral arguments, silence shall be maintained at all times during the court session.
  • No photographs or recordings of court proceedings are allowed except as provided by Supreme Court Rule 17.
  • All electronic devices should be silenced during oral arguments.  If used during oral arguments, they should be positioned in a manner not to interfere with microphones or recording equipment of the Court.  Internet access may not be available so download documents prior to your arrival at oral arguments.

Lawyer's room

The lawyer’s room, located directly to the south of the courtroom, is now open for attorney use.

Display equipment

A document stand camera and 50" plasma TV are now available in the courtroom for use in displaying exhibits or other documents during oral argument.  If you wish to utilize this equipment, please advise the bailiff prior to the start of the court session.  Instructions regarding the use of this equipment are available on our web site at https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/Courts/av-instructional-sheet.pdf. If you require additional information, please contact the Clerk's Office at 2413 State Capitol, 402-471-3731.

Restrooms

A restroom is located outside the lawyer's room.  A women's restroom is located at the end of the hallway to the west of the courtrooms.  A men's restroom is located down the west hallway and around the corner.

Nebraska Supreme Court Policy for Audio Files Available over the internet​

  • Notice to Attorneys

Digital audio files of appellate court proceedings held before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals (the “Court”) are uploaded to the Judicial Branch website within 24-hours of that day’s oral arguments, unless otherwise directed by the Court. All oral arguments of the Court are livestreamed from the appellate courtrooms through Nebraska Public Media’s Live & On Demand: State Government website, http://nebraskapublicmedia.org, and the video is uploaded and can be found on the Judicial Branch website.

  • Limiting Personal Information

If confidential information is stated on the record in open court, it will become publicly available through the audio file, video file, and live streaming of the oral argument. Since counsel and the parties are solely responsible for guaranteeing that confidential information be protected, the better practice is to avoid stating confidential or sensitive information during oral argument. Also, counsel and the parties are advised that audio files and video files cannot be edited before they are uploaded to the website.

If confidential information is stated during oral argument, counsel or the parties may move the Court to seal, restrict, or otherwise prohibit placement of the audio file or video file on the Judicial Branch website.

  • Privacy Rules

Nebraska court rules protect certain personal and financial information from public disclosure at the trial court level. See Neb. Ct. R. App. P. §§ 6-1521, 6-1464, and 6-1701. These rules are available on the Judicial Branch website under the Rules tab. If such protected information is stated during oral argument, before the Court, it will become available to the public through the placement of the audio file and video file on the Judicial Branch website or through the live streaming of oral argument.

Revised: 12/1/2022