A. Rules for operation of problem-solving courts in the Third Judicial District.

   (1) All problem-solving courts, also denominated as specialty courts, and alternative disposition courts, shall be operated pursuant to and in compliance with chapter 6, article 12, of the Nebraska Supreme Court Rules regarding trial courts.

   (2) Before commencing any operations, all problem-solving courts to be operated in the Third Judicial District shall be approved by the Nebraska Supreme Court.

   B. Presiding judge; assignment of judges; and succession plan for problem-solving court judges.

   (1) The Third Judicial District's Problem-Solving Court programs shall be presided over by a district judge selected by the district court judges of the Third Judicial District.

   (2) The presiding judges so appointed shall serve in any or all of the divisions of the problem-solving court and may serve under a temporary or permanent assignment. A permanently assigned judge shall serve a term of not less than 3 consecutive years. A temporary judge assignment shall not exceed 1 year and shall be a transitional or interim position.

   (3) Prior to assuming the position of a problem-solving court judge, or as soon thereafter as is practical, the assigned judge shall attend a judicial training program administered by the National Drug Court Institute or other training program approved by the State's Problem-Solving Court Coordinator. At least every 3 years after the initial training, each problem-solving court judge shall attend training events complying with the Nebraska Problem-Solving Court standards.

   (4) On or before May 1, 2017, and every 3 years thereafter, the district court judges of the Third Judicial District, with the consent of the assigned judge, shall designate a successor judge who shall immediately succeed the presiding judge in the event of the presiding judge's death, disability, retirement, resignation, removal, elevation to another court, or failure to be retained. Such successor judge shall attend training in advance of service, pursuant to subsection (4) above, in order to allow the successor judge to immediately assume the position of presiding problem-solving court judge upon the occurrence of a vacancy.

   (5) As of the date of adoption, the following judges shall preside in the district's problem-solving courts:

   (a) Adult Drug Court

   (i) Presiding judge(s): Ryan S. Post and (retired judge) John A. Colborn

   (ii) Successor judge(s): Jodi L. Nelson, Andrew R. Jacobsen, Lori A. Maret, Susan I. Strong, or Matthew O. Mellor

   (b) Veterans Treatment Court

   (i) Presiding judge(s): Kevin R. McManaman and (retired judge) John A. Colborn

   (ii) Successor judge(s): Jodi L. Nelson, Andrew R. Jacobsen, Lori A. Maret, Susan I. Strong, or Matthew O. Mellor

   (c) DUI Court

   (i) Presiding judge(s): Darla S. Ideus and (retired judge) John A. Colborn

   (ii) Successor judge(s): Jodi L. Nelson, Andrew R. Jacobsen, Lori A. Maret, Susan I. Strong, or Matthew O. Mellor

   (d) Reentry Courts: none in operation

   (e) Mental Health Courts: none in operation

Rule 3-18 approved May 17, 2017; amended July 2022, approved September 21, 2022; amended September 6, 2023; amended May 8, 2024.