Commemorating last week's celebration of Probation Week in Nebraska, officers Mark Wagner and Latimer Perry joined Your Nebraska Judicial Branch to discuss the power of probation in their personal lives and in the communities they serve.

The State Judicial Branch is celebrating Nebraska Probation Week July 17-23, 2022. To highlight the celebration, Chief Justice Michael Heavican signed a proclamation designating the week and urging all citizens – particularly those within the legal community – to take note of the occasion.

Assistant Deputy Kari Rumbaugh and Specialist Lindsay Meyer from Juvenile Services join Your Nebraska Judicial Branch to preview the happenings of Nebraska Probation Week, July 17-23.

LaTanya Stricklin serves as both an Assistant Clerk in the Douglas County Court and a Bailiff Supervisor. Stricklin helped Douglas County Court complete necessary work despite the court experiencing a shortage of bailiffs. Stricklin consistently arrives to work with a humble and hardworking attitude, and though she personally had a difficult year, her sunny outlook has never wavered.

Thank you, LaTanya, for your dedication to supporting the operation of the courts!

Juvenile Justice Resource Supervisor Martin Jensen was nominated as an Everyday Hero due in large part to his work with the Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Initiative Projects. As part of his work, Jensen has invested himself in the trauma sub-committee of “Hope Rising” where he has formed a team of individuals to read the book “Hope Rising,” embracing its concepts and implementing the ‘science of hope’. He is an innovative leader and is always willing to embrace new ideas. His passion for building informed, compassionate, and educated leaders is evident.

The Justice and Behavioral Health Conference is intended for individuals who work with Nebraska’s justice system in a variety of ways, including Problem-Solving Court teams, behavioral health clinicians, probation officers, child welfare workers, judges, lawyers, and law enforcement.

The in-person conference is September 28-30, 2022, at the Embassy Suites La Vista Hotel & Conference Center.  Presenters will explore the relationship between criminogenic risk factors, motivation for positive behavior change, treatment readiness, and more.

Royce Gonzales excels not only in his role for the county, but also as Clerk of the District Court in Nuckolls County and President of the Central District Clerks Association. He aids his courthouse’s IT team and makes sure he is available to fellow clerks should questions arise. Additionally, he serves on numerous Supreme Court committees and is available to give valuable advice and feedback to his colleagues. Gonzales’ personality, kindness, and great sense of humor helped ease the stress experienced by court staff during the past two turbulent years.

The 2022 Summer Tour will take the Chief Justice, key court staff, and select judges and justices to the northwestern portion of the state in mid-August in conjunction with the Nebraska Consortium of Tribal, State, and Federal Courts’ public engagement sessions.  The Chief Justice and members of the Court devote several days each summer to traveling outside the Lincoln area to meet with judges, court, and probation staff and to observe local programs and services.

The Platte County District Court staff, led by Clerk of the District Court Marlene Vetick (3rd from left) with Laurie Sloup, Lori Micek, Dawn Samsel, Kelli Scheffler, and Sandra Janssen, were the consummate hosts for the change of venue trial of State v. Felipe Vazquez. Staff of the Clerk of the District Court spent hours working with the visiting court staff from Lancaster County, reviewing facilities and finding space for the trial.  They also worked with the technology team to set up Zoom for the hearing and manage space for visiting media.

Payton Hogan, joins Your Nebraska Judicial Branch to reflect on his remarks at the May 2022 Nebraska Problem-Solving Court Month proclamation ceremony.