Lancaster and Lincoln Counties both held events on Saturday, November 3, celebrating National Adoption Day.

Lancaster County Juvenile Court participated in their 14th consecutive National Adoption Day celebration, hosted by the Honorable Reggie Ryder, Separate Juvenile Court Judge, Lancaster County. They finalized 37 adoptions at the Lancaster County Justice and Law Enforcement Center in Lincoln and provided refreshments and fun activities, such as balloon artists, face painting, photo booth, arts and crafts, and hair braiding, for the children and their families.

Ms. Ellen Fabian Brokofsky, Nebraska State Probation Administrator and longtime Judicial Branch employee, announced her retirement after 13 years as Probation Administrator for the Nebraska Supreme Court, effective December 31, 2018. She has served in varying levels of the probation system for the past 43 years.

Judge Robert O'Neal of the juvenile court in Papillion and Judge John E. Samson of the district court in Blair were awarded the Supreme Court’s highest honors on October 18, 2018, during the Court’s annual meeting in La Vista.

O'Neal was presented the Improvement of Community Relations Award and Samson was given the Improvement of the Judicial System Award by Chief Justice Mike Heavican at the Court’s Annual Judicial Dinner. The awards recognize members of the judiciary for meritorious projects and exemplary accomplishments beyond their day-to-day duties as a judge.  

Seventy Nebraska State Probation officers were officially sworn in on October 10, 2018 in the Capitol Rotunda by Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican.

Ellen Fabian Brokofsky, Probation Administrator, addressed the new officers, their families and fellow Probation employees noting that probation officers play an integral role in the administration of justice.  Probation Officers are officers of the court and the right arm of the court system.  They provide to the court two important services: investigations and supervision. 

Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, Mike Heavican, presented 12 Employee Recognition Awards to individuals and team members on September 27, 2018, during the Nebraska Judicial Branch tenth annual recognition event.

We are excited to announce the winners of our Administrative Office of Probation, Juvenile Services Division 3rd Annual Art Contest. We had so many more submissions this year that we chose three winners and the results were very close. The three winners will receive gift cards, a certificate and ribbon. In addition, the artwork is on display in the Juvenile Administration entry area on 5th floor of the Executive building. All contestants will receive a thank-you gift.

The Nebraska Court of Appeals celebrated Constitution Day on the campus of York College on September 13, 2018. College and area high school students in attendance were reminded that the official Constitution Day is September 17.

The Court of Appeals sat in their customary two panels in the Bartholomew Performing Arts Center with Judge Lawrence Welch, Jr., presiding in the morning and Judge David Arterburn presiding in the afternoon.

Judge Arterburn is a graduate of York College.

A swearing-in ceremony for Sara Fowler as Clerk Magistrate of Hall County Court was held August 28, 2018, in the courthouse in Grand Island, Nebraska. Judge Arthur Wetzel opened the ceremony and welcomed guests.  Judge Alfred Corey administered the Clerk Magistrate oath of office. Both judges presented Fowler with her signed certificate of appointment.

Fowler had been serving as assistant clerk when she was selected to serve as clerk magistrate. 

Christine Christopherson has been named Director of Nebraska Judicial Branch Education (JBE), a position that oversees the coordination and delivery of educational offerings for all Judicial Branch employees and judges throughout the state.

The hiring panel included JBE Advisory Committee members: Judge Riko Bishop, Chair; Judge John Colborn, Vice Chair; Judge Linda Bauer, committee member; and Corey Steel, State Court Administrator.

The investiture ceremony of Judge John R. Freudenberg as a Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court representing the 6th Appellate Court Judicial District was held August 10, 2018, in the Warner Chamber of the Nebraska State Capitol.