Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, Mike Heavican, presented 22 awards to Judicial Branch employees and teams on December 7, 2021, during the annual Nebraska Judicial Branch recognition event.

State Court Administrator Corey Steel, Probation Administrator Deb Minardi, and the Chief Justice honored employees with a ceremony in the Rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol. The awards are the highest honors given by the Nebraska Supreme Court, recognizing outstanding performance by court and probation employees in the Nebraska Judicial System.

The Employee Recognition Committee selected nine individuals and two teams from the nominations submitted. Candidates for the awards were nominated by colleagues in the courts and probation offices.

There are over 1,600 employees in the judicial system in court and probation offices statewide. The 2021 Award Recipients include:

Employee of the Year:  Dean Rohwer, Problem-Solving Court Coordinator, District 3

Outstanding Customer Service in the Courts:  The Justice Help Desk (statewide electronic recordkeeping system for the court system) - Ann Alden, Jordan Flynn, Jason Fredenburg, Laurayne Hall, Jordan Hernandez, Sue Nieto, Mike Prochnow, and Casey Tribolet

Outstanding County Court Staff: RayLynn Coble, Assistant Clerk, District 8 - Custer County

Outstanding Probation Office Support Staff: Linda Veerhusen, Administrative Assistant, Operations Division

Outstanding County Court Clerk Magistrate: Linda Smith, Magistrate, District 11 - Hitchcock County

Outstanding Probation Officer:  Erin Curran, Probation Treatment Officer, District 2 - Sarpy County

Outstanding Clerk of the District Court: Diane Wells, Clerk of the District Court, District 1 - Gage County

Outstanding Probation Supervisor: Creston Ashburn, Problem-Solving Court Coordinator, District 2 - Sarpy County

Outstanding Administrative Employee:  Melissa Ireland, Judicial Branch Education Training Manager, Judicial Branch Education

Innovation: Chelsie Tasso, Clerk Magistrate, District 12 - Box Butte County

Outstanding Team: Adolescent Development Workgroup, District 3J - Martin Jensen, MaKayla Parriott, Michelle Lindhart, Jennifer Manning, Amoreena Brady

The awards ceremony was recorded and can be viewed here.

Photo: 2021 Award Recipients

Front Row (L to R): Creston Ashburn, Erin Curran, Jennifer Manning, Michelle Lindhart, Ann Alden, Laurayne Hall, Casey Tribolet, Jason Fredenburg, Chief Justice Heavican, Linda Smith, Linda Veerhusen, Sue Nieto, Diane Wells.  

Back row (L to R): RayLynn Coble, Dean Rohwer, Corey Steel, Martin Jensen, Deb Minardi, Jordan Hernandez, Jordan Flynn, Michael Prochnow, Amoreena Brady, MaKayla Parriott: 

Not pictured:  Melissa Ireland, Chelsie Tasso