Chief Justice Mike Heavican delivered his annual State of the Judiciary address to state senators on January 21, 2021, in the Legislative Chamber.

The address was given at the invitation of the Speaker of the Legislature, Senator Mike Hilgers. The Chief Justice uses this time with the legislature to highlight Judicial Branch priorities for the upcoming year, review the previous year, and provide relevant information directly to lawmakers.

Chief Justice Heavican attended the legislature’s opening session on January 6, 2021, to swear-in new senators and legislative leaders of the 107th Nebraska Legislature.

Eight newly elected senators, including three who had previously served, were sworn-in. Heavican also administrated the oath of office to Nebraska’s new Speaker of the Legislature, Mike Hilgers.

Chief Justice Heavican will present his “State of the Judiciary” remarks to the Unicameral on January 21. Gov. Pete Ricketts is scheduled to give his “State of the State” address on January 14.

This year’s Annual Judicial Branch Employee Recognition Awards, the highest honors given by the Nebraska Supreme Court in recognition of exemplary performance by staff in the Judicial System, were presented virtually on December 15, 2020.

Acknowledging the unique challenges of COVID-19 this past year, the Judicial Branch awarded two recipients for certain categories. One award is to recognize the work of employees in the court and probation offices, and the other is to recognize employees at the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation (AOCP).

Ten probation and court trainers attended a nonviolent crisis intervention training session in Lincoln the week of December 7, 2020. This four-day crisis intervention program focuses on verbal de-escalation strategies. It is designed for primary caregivers, educators, human service professionals, probation, and police officers who directly intervene in crises. The course teaches trainers to engage in successful de-escalation techniques. 

Chief Justice Heavican and justices of the Supreme Court hosted a Judicial Branch orientation program on December 2, 2020, for newly elected senators who will serve the 2021-2025 term.

Senators gathered in the Court of Appeals courtroom for an overview of the Judicial Branch, including an update on administrative functions.

Below is the Administrative Order signed November 6, 2020, by Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Heavican regarding Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19 Disease.

Statewide Language Access Coordinator Jennifer Verhein joins us to explain how individuals receive interpretation services. In addition, she discusses the processes and standards one must undergo to become an interpreter working with the program.

State Probation Administrator Deborah Minardi addressed 71 new probation officers, their families, and fellow probation employees via Webex on October 27, 2020, during a virtual swearing-in ceremony.  Minardi noted that probation’s work is both complex and dynamic and presents a multitude of challenges on any given day. In Nebraska, there are over 14,000 adults, and over 2,000 juveniles under probation supervision.

Judge Kale Burdick of the county court in O’Neill and Judge Geoffrey Hall of the district court in Fremont were announced as 2020’s Distinguished Judge award recipients by Chief Justice Mike Heavican. 

Michelle joins Your Nebraska Judicial Branch to discuss the role of the the Office of Public Guardian in protecting the vulnerable adults of Nebraska. Learn about the role of the office, experiences of Associate Public Guardians, and how you can get involved through volunteer opportunities.

Your Nebraska Judicial Branch is available to listen and subscribe on all podcast app platforms. Additionally, it is found on the web at: https://nejudicial.buzzsprout.com/.