Eighty 4th grade students from Wysong Elementary from Lincoln travelled to the Supreme Court Courtroom on the final day of 2019 National Judicial Outreach Week (March 1-8).

Justice Stephanie Stacy greeted the group noting that usually people are not sitting on the floor of a courtroom. “They are sitting in seats in the gallery,” she said, “It is the public space that is open to everyone without having to call ahead or announce that they are coming.”

Anyone -- volunteer or paid staff -- who interacts with a jury is required to take the Judicial Branch Education Jury Management Course. The course is online. Requests for the course must come through the Clerk of the District Court or Clerk Magistrate. The request form is available on the JBE Intranet.

by Meghan Straub
Nebraska News Service

The Court of Appeals will hold a ceremonial court session to honor the life of Judge Edward E. Hannon on Monday, April 15, 2019, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Hannon died March 16, 2017, in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the age of 85.

Hannon served on the District Court bench in O’Neill from December 2, 1983, until his appointment to the Court of Appeals on January 31, 1992. He retired from the Court of Appeals December 31, 2003.

Hannon’s friend and fellow judge, Justice William B. Cassel, will serve as ceremony chairperson for the late judge.      

Chief Justice Mike Heavican gave his 2019 State of the Judiciary speech to the Nebraska Legislature on January 17, 2019. During his presentation he highlighted the work of probation, court technology, language access, guardian-conservator services, and the Court’s program for educational outreach.

The Nebraska Supreme Court announces the appointment of Ms. Deborah (Deb) Minardi as Nebraska’s new State Probation Administrator. Minardi, the sixth administrator in sixty years, will direct the statewide delivery of all juvenile and adult probation services in Nebraska. The appointment is effective immediately.

Nebraska’s newest state senators were welcomed to the Supreme Court Courtroom following their legislative orientation on December 3, 2018.   

Only Michigan, Texas and Washington engaged in more celebrations than Nebraska, according to the events listed on the NationalAdoptionDay.org events webpage. Nebraska held Adoption Day celebrations in eight communities across the state. Two counties, Lancaster and Lincoln, celebrated on November 3, and events in Omaha, Norfolk, Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney occurred on November 17, the day generally recognized as National Adoption Day. Scottsbluff held their event on December 8, this year.

The Administrative Office of Probation-Juvenile Services Division is releasing the third annual Detailed Analysis.  The publication provides updated data and progress regarding the Juvenile Justice Reform Initiative from July 2017 to June 2018.

Students at Schuyler Central High School were invited to ask questions of the Nebraska Supreme Court during a November visit to their school – and they did not hold back. The first student to approach the Court had to set aside his original inquiry regarding TransCanada when he realized the justices couldn’t discuss a pending case.