Debra Hand, Assistant Clerk for Cherry County Court, has been selected to serve as clerk magistrate in Valentine.  Hand will begin work as clerk magistrate on January 3, 2022.

On December 17, 2021, two individuals graduated drug court with Judge James G. Kube presiding.  This graduation represented a milestone for the program with Josef Perez as the first graduate in program history whose primary language is Spanish. The court used interpreter services throughout his program to overcome the language barrier.

Perez and Tyler Bredvick appeared before the Northeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court in Madison County to have their charges dismissed.  During the ceremony, graduates offered encouragement to other participants in the program.

The Douglas County Adult Drug Court celebrated its 115th Drug Court graduation in Omaha on December 8, 2021, at the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center. Ten (10) graduates achieved recognition and praise for completing the program. The ceremony marks the completion of an intensive program of comprehensive mental health treatment, intensive community supervision, and full accountability. Presiding Adult Drug Court Judges Tressa M. Alioth, Timothy P. Burns, Todd O. Engleman, and Leigh Ann Retelsdorf hosted the ceremony. 

Veteran Mentors for the Lancaster County Veterans Court thanked the Chief Justice for his leadership during a coin presentation ceremony in the Supreme Court courtroom on December 14, 2021.

Ceremony participants outlined their hopes for the future, noting that under the administration of Chief Justice Heavican, the Lancaster County Veteran’s Treatment Court and many other Nebraska problem-solving courts have become an integral part of the court system.

At the Dodge County Courthouse, the Dodge County Adult Drug Court celebrated graduation in Fremont on December 7, 2021. The ceremony for the graduate, Kasaira Consbruck, marks her persistent three-year path with intensive, comprehensive mental health treatment, community supervision, and full accountability. Judge Geoffrey C. Hall presided at the Adult Drug Court hearing.

The Hastings High School auditorium quieted as Junior Joshua Torres announced, “All Rise” and gave the Court Call while serving as student bailiff for Nebraska Supreme Court.  Justices, lawyers, and staff visited Hastings High School for arguments in November 2021 in an effort to raise awareness of court processes and the importance of civics education to society.  

Awarded to: The JUSTICE Help Desk - Ann Alden, Jordan Flynn, Jason Fredenburg, Laurayne Hall, Jordan Hernandez, Sue Nieto, Mike Prochnow, and Casey Tribolet

The outstanding customer service award recognizes employees who implement creative and effective programs that improve customer assistance.

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.

Misty Flowers, Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition (NICWC) Executive Director, and Jill Holt, NICWC Training and Education Director, join Your Nebraska Judicial Branch to discuss the mission of their organization in education, advocacy, and bringing people together.

Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael G. Heavican has been inducted into the 2021 Warren E. Burger Society through the National Center for State Courts.