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

   (1) The Separate Juvenile Court of Lancaster County Problem-Solving Court programs shall be presided over by a juvenile judge selected by the juvenile court judges.

   (2) The presiding problem-solving court judges so selected 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 is practical, the assigned judge shall attend a judicial training program administered 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, 2020, and every 3 years thereafter, the juvenile court judges shall appoint successor presiding judges 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 (3), 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 hereof, the following judges shall preside in the problem-solving courts:

   (a) Safe and Healthy Families Court:

   (i) Presiding judge: Elise White

   (ii) Successor judge: Reggie Ryder

   (b) Family Treatment Drug Court:

   (i) Presiding judge: Roger J. Heideman

   (ii) Successor judge: Shellie Sabata

Rule XI approved May 10, 2017; Rule XI amended May 17, 2023.