Judicial Resources Commission to Hold December 9 Public Hearing

Judicial Resources Commission to Hold December 9 Public Hearing

The Judicial Resources Commission will hold its Annual Meeting, which includes a public hearing, on December 9, 2022, at 1 p.m. central standard time, in Room 1510 of the State Capitol Building in Lincoln, Nebraska. All proceedings will be conducted in-person and will include the option of virtual conferencing via WebEx.  

 Click for HEARING AGENDA and MEETING MATERIALS.

PUBLIC HEARING: The Commission will receive testimony, both in-person and in writing, on the following agenda items:

  1. Whether a judicial vacancy exists in the office of the District Court, 3rd Judicial District, due to the retirement of Judge Robert R. Otte effective midnight November 27, 2022, and if so whether to recommend a primary office location.
  2. Whether a new judgeship is appropriate in any judicial district.
  3. Whether a reduction in judgeships is appropriate in any judicial district
  4. Whether the judicial district boundaries or the number of judicial districts should be changed for the district or county courts.
  5. Whether, based on an examination of current caseload statistics, the Judicial Resources Commission should make any appropriate recommendations for the more balanced use of existing judicial resources.

WebEx will not be used to receive public testimony. Those wanting to present testimony during the public hearing may either (1) appear in person and sign in as a witness, or (2) provide written testimony in advance of the meeting by emailing it to: Dawn.Mussmann@nebraska.gov or by mailing it postage pre-paid to: Judicial Resources Commission, State Capitol Building, P.O. Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509. To be considered by the Commission, any written testimony must be received by no later than December 7, 2022. All written testimony submitted by the deadline will be marked as an exhibit, received at the hearing, and made available to the public.

ATTENDANCE OPTIONS: Members of the Commission have the option of participating in the proceedings either in-person at the State Capitol, or via WebEx using a member link to be provided.

Members of the public have the option of attending the proceedings either in-person at the State Capitol, or via live WebEx broadcast using this public link.

The hearing room is large, but all persons attending in person should be prepared for staggered admittance and restricted seating in order to maintain appropriate social distancing and to comply with any directed health measures then in effect.

Members of the Judicial Resources Commission are:

Honorable Stephanie F. Stacy, Chair  Honorable Travis P. O’Gorman, Alliance
Timothy R. Engler, Lincoln  Honorable Anne M. Paine, McCook
Taylor Gage, Lincoln   Brian Phares, North Platte
Ken Hartman, Omaha   Meagan Spomer, Omaha 
Honorable Matthew R. Kahler, Omaha Darlene Starman, Lincoln 
Roxanne Kracl, Fremont  Ron Temple, Norfolk
Nancy McCabe, Omaha      Jacqueline Tessendorf, Columbus   
Michael J. McCarthy, North Platte Maria Whitmore, Shelby


For reasonable accommodations relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call (402) 471-3730. For persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, please call the Nebraska Relay System at 711.