Nebraska District Court Judge Bryan Meismer of Dakota City, Nebraska, was invited to sit with the Nebraska Supreme Court on February 4, 2022.

Meismer heard arguments in the case of State v. Brunsen (21-0354). In this appeal, Brunsen challenges the district court’s denial of his petition to set aside a 1988 misdemeanor criminal conviction.

He sat in place of Chief Justice Mike Heavican, who was recused from the case. The Court session was held in the Supreme Court Courtroom of the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.

Seven justices make up the Nebraska Supreme Court: Chief Justice Mike Heavican and six associate justices. On occasion, a justice must recuse him or herself from a case, and a judge from a district court or the Court of Appeals is asked to sit with the Supreme Court.    

The February 4, 2022, oral arguments can be viewed on the Court’s archive.

Reporters:

• Judicial Profile for Judge Bryan Meismer
• Background on the Supreme Court
• Justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court

Screen shot from argument session on Nebraska Public Media:

(L to R) Justice Jonathan Papik, Justice Stephanie Stacy, Judge Bryan Meismer, Justice William Cassel, Justice Jeff Funke, Justice John Freudenberg, with Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman participating via video conferencing. Arguing before the Court is attorney Matthew Lewis. Recording Court arguments is Nate Dobbs.