Supreme Court Commission on Children in the Courts

    Supreme Court Commission on Children in the Courts

    Origin/Authorization:  Consultation Minutes of December 22, 2004

    Terms:  Initial appointments to be at the pleasure of the Court. Members appointed after February 21, 2008, shall be appointed to 3-year terms.

    Purpose Statement:  The commission will study and recommend appropriate steps for the judicial system to undertake to insure that the courts are as responsive as possible for children who interact with, or are directly affected by the courts.

     

    Name, City Composition Appointment Date Term Expires
    Hon. Roger Heideman, Lincoln Co-Chairperson, Separate Juvenile Judge 11-19-19 12-31-22

    Hon. Francie Riedmann, Gretna

    Reappointed 10-7-20

    		 Co-Chairperson, Appellate Judge 10-18-17 12-31-23

    Hon. Michael Piccolo, North Platte

    Reappointed 11-12-15, 10-24-18

    		 District Judge 10-16-13 12-31-21

    Hon. Vernon Daniels, Omaha

    Reappointed 3-18-09, 10-17-12, 11-12-15, 10-24-18

    		 Separate Juvenile Judge 12-29-04 12-31-21
    Kathy Olson, Lincoln Attorney, UNL Center on Children, Families, and the Law 10-12-11 Permanent

    Hon. Lawrence D. Gendler, Papillion

    Reappointed 10-29-14, 10-18-17, 10-7-20

    Separate Juvenile Judge

    Lead Judge for the Through the Eyes of the Child teams

    		 12-29-04 12-31-23
    Corrie Kielty Director, Nebraska CASA 3-13-13 Permanent
    Hon. James Masteller, Omaha District Judge 11-12-20 12-23-23
    Hon. Ross Stoffer, Madison County Judge 11-19-19 12-31-22
    Dannette Smith, Lincoln Chief Exec. Officer, Health and Human Services 4-03-19 Permanent
    Aubrey Mancuso Policy Coordinator for Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Voices for Children in Nebraska 10-7-20 Permanent

    Tom Harmon, Omaha

    Reappointed 9-29-10, 10-16-13, 10-19-16, 11-19-19

    		 County Judge 2-21-08 12-31-22
    Mary Jo Pankoke, Lincoln Co-Director, Governor's Task Force & Commission on the Protection of Children 12-29-04 Permanent
    Hon. Matthew Kahler Separate Juvenile Judge 10-7-20 12-31-21

    Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, Lincoln

    Reappointed 11-19-19

    		 State Senator, District 25 10-19-16 12-31-22

    Hon. Michael P. Burns

    Reappointed 10-24-18

    		 County Judge 11-12-15 12-31-21

    Christine Costantakos, Omaha

    Reappointed 9-29-10, 10-16-13, 10-31-16, 11-19-19

    		 Attorney 2-21-08 12-31-22

    Hon. Patrick Runge, Winnebago

    Reappointed 3-18-09, 10-17-12, 11-12-15, 10-24-18

    		 District Judge, Winnebago Tribal Court 12-29-04

    12-31-21
    Liz Neeley, Lincoln Executive Director, Nebraska State Bar Association 10-19-14 Permanent

    Hon. Anne Paine, McCook

    Reappointed 10-17-12, 11-12-15, 10-24-18

    		 County Judge 3-18-09 12-31-21
    Sarah Helvey, Lincoln Nebraska Appleseed 3-18-09 Permanent
    Milo Mumgaard, Lincoln Director, Legal Aid of Nebraska 11-12-15 Permanent
    Monika Gross, Lincoln Executive Director, Foster Care Review Office 5-06-20 Permanent

    Hon. Stefanie Martinez

    Reappointed 11-18-17, 10-7-20

    		 District Judge 11-12-15 12-31-23

    Hon. Randin Roland, Sidney

    Reappointed 9-29-10, 10-16-13, 10-19-16, 11-19-19

    		 County Judge 2-21-08 12-31-22

    Elizabeth A. F. Waterman, Lexington

    Reappointed 3-18-09, 10-17-12, 11-12-15, 10-24-18

    		 County Attorney, Dawson County 1-05-05 12-31-21
    Hon. Michael G. Heavican, Lincoln (ex-officio) Chief Justice, Nebraska Supreme Court 11-15-06  
    Corey Steel, Lincoln (ex-officio) State Court Administrator 5-21-15  
    Deborah Minardi, Lincoln Probation Administrator 5-15-19 Permanent

    Carole McMahon-Boies, Lincoln

    Reappointed 10-18-17

    		 Attorney Services 3-18-09 Permanent
    Marcie Bergquist, Omaha Attorney, Health and Human Services 11-19-19 12-31-21
    Jennifer Carter, Lincoln Child Welfare Inspector General 10-7-20 Permanent

    Azar Webb, Lincoln

    Reappointed 11-19-19

    		 Youth Representative 10-19-16 12-31-22

    Hon. Rachel Daugherty, Aurora

    Reappointed 10-18-17, 10-7-20

    		 District Judge 10-29-14 12-31-23
    Jeanne Brandner, Lincoln
    Reappointed 10-24-18    		 Deputy Probation Administrator for Juvenile Services 6-22-16 12-31-21
    Matthew Blomstedt, Lincoln Nebraska Commissioner of Education 5-2-17 Permanent

    J. Leef, Sidney

    Reappointed 10-7-20

    		 Attorney 10-18-17 12-31-23
    Karen Hicks, Omaha Attorney 10-18-17 12-31-20

    Dr. Kirk Newring, Papillion

    Reappointed 10-7-20

    		 Psychologist 10-18-17 12-31-23

    Mandi Amy, Kearney

    Reappointed 10-7-20

    		 Deputy County Attorney 10-18-17 12-31-23

    Martin Klein, Norfolk

    Reappointed 10-7-20

    		 Attorney 10-18-17 12-31-23

    Tana Fye, Holdrege

    Reappointed 10-7-20

    		 Attorney, Guardian ad Litem 10-18-17 12-31-23

    Sen. Tony Vargas, Omaha

    Reappointed 10-7-20

    		 State Senator, District 7 10-18-17 12-31-23

    Stephanie Beasley, Lincoln

    Reappointed 10-7-20

    		 Director, Children and Family Services, Health and Human Services 5-06-20 12-31-23
    Misty Frazier, Bloomfield ICWA Coalition, Executive Director 10-24-18 12-31-21
    Chris Turner, Lincoln Chief Deputy County Attorney, Lancaster County 10-24-18 12-31-21
    Monica Kruger, Omaha Attorney 10-24-18 12-31-21
    Ivy Svoboda, Omaha Executive Director, Nebraska Alliance of Child Advocacy Centers 10-24-18 12-31-21

    Note: members without a term expiration are permanent.