Chief Justice Michael Heavican and the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation cordially invite you to the Juvenile Justice System Enhancement ~ Nebraska (JJSEN) Virtual Kickoff Event held online at noon (Central Time) on June 21, 2021.

Your Nebraska Judicial Branch is joined by Nebraska's Statewide Problem-Solving Courts Director Adam Jorgensen to discuss the unique role these courts play in reducing recidivism, and increasing positive outcomes.

Nebraska Chief Justice Michael G. Heavican held a proclamation signing ceremony announcing Nebraska Problem-Solving Court Month on behalf of the State Judicial Branch on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony was streamed live from the State Capitol out of respect for social distancing.

On the first day of May each year, the legal community celebrates Law Day. The day originated in 1957 when the American Bar Association envisioned a special day celebrating the US legal system. President Dwight Eisenhower established Law Day with a presidential proclamation in 1958.

This year we continue to celebrate separately. Next May, the Nebraska Judicial Branch will be celebrating with in-person events. 

The 2021 renewal of Nebraska court media credentials includes a multiple-choice review of new and sometimes confusing/problematic rules.

The Supreme Court recently updated the media rules for cameras in the courtroom, requiring court media credentials to be renewed every two years. Taking the opportunity to update news reporters’ knowledge of rules and rule amendments, credentialing has devised a series of questions to be answered before new media badges are issued.

With over 100 Creighton Law students in a Zoom waiting room, Law School Professor Carol Knoepfler, a former Supreme Court Law Clerk, quickly organized the Nebraska Supreme Court’s justices into an online panel. The Zoom question and answer session with Creighton law students substituted for their annual in-person session held each Spring. Students were required to watch previously selected live-streamed arguments to prepare for a discussion with justices over the noon hour on Thursday, April 1, 2021.

In the tenth episode of Your Nebraska Judicial Branch, Chief Justice Michael Heavican joins the podcast to discuss issues of access to justice, and how courts and Judicial Branch services have remained operational during unprecedented times. 

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

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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.