Distinguished Judge Awards
Service to the Community
County Court Judge Todd Hutton of Papillion was awarded the Distinguished Judge for Service to the Community Award during the annual Judicial Dinner during the October judges' meeting in Lincoln. The Service to the Community award is designed for a judge who has distinguished himself or herself through performance of service to the community on a volunteer or professional level. The press release regarding the announcement is on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/press/2007-releases/service-community-07.pdf.

Service to the Judiciary
County Court Judge Curt Maschman of the 1st Judicial District and County Court Judge Pat McDermott of the 5th Judicial District were jointly awarded the Distinguished Judge for Improvement of the Judiciary Award during the October Judicial Dinner. The Service to the Judiciary award is given to a judge who has distinguished himself or herself through contributions to the improvement of the judicial system; service as a trial judge; or promotion of judicial efficiency. The press release regarding the announcement is on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/press/2007-releases/service-judiciary-07.pdf.

Judicial News Special Issue -- 2007 Distinguished Judge Awards

Back to top

Nebraska State Bar Foundation Announces 2007 Fellows
Six judges were nominated and inducted into the 2007 Class of Fellows by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation. The selection is based upon their dedication to improving the administration of justice in this state, their leadership in the legal profession, their civic service, their integrity and their Foundation support.

The 2007 fellows are Hon. Alan L. Brodbeck, O'Neill; Hon. Elizabeth G. Crnkovich, Omaha; Hon. Marcena M. Hendrix, Omaha; Hon. John R. Hoffert, Lincoln; Hon. Mark D. Kozisek, Ainsworth; and Hon. Linda J. Porter, Lincoln.

New Probation Personnel
Angela Smith, Probation Officer, District #8, Grand Island, effective October 8, 2007.
Ryan McWilliams, Probation Officer, District #16, Fremont, effective November 1, 2007.

Back to top

Association Updates
Judge and Court Staff Appoint New Association Presidents for 2008
Congratulations to all new association presidents:

Nebraska District Judges' Association, President: Karen Flowers
www.supremecourt.ne.gov/commissions/ndja.shtml

Nebraska Separate Juvenile Judges' Association, President: Elizabeth G. Crnkovich
www.supremecourt.ne.gov/commissions/nsjja.shtml

Nebraska County Judges' Association President: John F. Steinheider
www.supremecourt.ne.gov/commissions/ncja.shtml

Nebraska County Court Association President: Darrie Streeter
www.supremecourt.ne.gov/commissions/ncca.shtml

Nebraska Supreme Court Implementation Committee on Pro Se Litigation Progress Update
Unbundled Legal Services
Subcommittee Chair Amie Martinez gave a presentation at the NSBA House of Delegates at the fall bar meeting on the ‘unbundling’ of legal services. The subcommittee has drafted rules which have been circulated and approved. Meetings have been held with the Professional Enhancement Committee of the Nebraska Bar Association and the Executive Council, in addition to the House. All communication efforts have been successful and well received.

Pro Se Forms
The subcommittee, headed by Judge Luther, has reported great progress on the uploading of forms and instructions to the Supreme Court Web site. Thus far, all forms have been rewritten in first person, made user-friendly, and are uniform in style. The new divorce forms (to accommodate LB 554) will be uploaded before December 1.

The new Self-Help page is located at: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/self-help/

Self-Help Desk Pilot Project in Lancaster County District Court
The project is four months into an 18-month pilot. The project coordinator, Jean McNeil of the NSBA, and Clerk of the District Court Sue Kirkland, reported that the project is successful and appreciated. Detailed information on the Self-Help Desk will be sent to judges and clerks before the end of the year.

Judicial Resources Commission
Annual Meeting to be Held
The Judicial Resources Commission annual meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 14, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., central standard time. Video conferencing hearing locations: State Capitol Building, Room 1525, Lincoln; Panhandle Research & Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, High Plains Room, Scottsbluff; State Office Building, Room 207, Second Floor, 1313 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska. The Commission will discuss the report and recommendations of the Judicial Structure and Administration Task Force along with the specific scenarios of moving the county court for Saunders County from the 5th Judicial District to the 2nd Judicial District and moving the county court for Colfax County from the 5th Judicial District to the 6th Judicial District as set out in the report of the Task Force. Following the hearing, the commission will make a recommendation to the Legislature of its determination. For additional information on participation and commission members, view the press release at: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/press/2007-releases/jrc-111407-annual-meeting.pdf.

Member Reappointed
Hon. Robert B. O'Neal was reappointed for a second term to the Judicial Resources Commission on October 24, 2007. He will serve on the Commission until October 31, 2013.

Dispute Resolution Advisory Council
John Ballew of Lincoln, John Slowiaczek of Omaha and Mike Pirtle of Omaha were appointed to the Dispute Resolution Advisory Council on October 24, 2007, and will serve until December 31, 2010. They replace James Gordon, Linda Sanchez Masi and Joe Wright.

Judicial Ethics Committee
Hon. Sandra Dougherty was appointed on October 24, 2007, to the Judicial Ethics Committee until December 31, 2014, to replace Hon. Steve Illingworth. Effective January 1, 2008, Hon. John Steinheider is Chair and John Colborn Vice Chair.

Judicial Branch Education Advisory Committee
Justice John Gerrard was appointed on October 24, 2007, to the JBE Advisory Committee until January 1, 2011. Hon. John Colborn, representing district judges, and Barb Pousson, representing county court clerk magistrates, were appointed with the same terms.

Back to top

Open Enrollment Continues through November 19, 2007
Remember that you must re-enroll online for all of your benefits using NIS. Dependents and beneficiaries must be re-entered or they will have not coverage. Before you begin, have the Options Quick Guide to Enrolling for your Benefits (part of the packet of materials mailed to you at your home address) available so you can refer to it. This guide has step-by-step instructions and tips for making the enrollment process much easier. Also, make sure you have all of your information available such as current benefits and the names, addresses, social security numbers and dates of birth for the individuals you wish to name as dependents and beneficiaries. Please enroll now and don’t wait for the deadline. If you aren’t enrolled by November 19th, you will not have benefits for 2008.

Back to top

Supreme Court Rule Amendments
Local Court Rules for Second Judicial District, District Court
On October 16, 2007, the Nebraska Supreme Court approved rule changes for the District Court of the Second Judicial District, Rules 2-2 and 2-9. View on the Judicial Branch Web site: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/amendments/2dJudDistAmds.pdf

Rules Governing UPL
On October 10, 2007, the Court adopted Rules Governing the Unauthorized Practice of Law. View on the Judicial Branch Web site: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/amendments/UPL.pdf

Child Support Guidelines
On October 24, 2007, the Nebraska Supreme Court adopted amendments to worksheets 1 through 4 of the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines. The Child Support worksheet amendments are posted at: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/amendments/childsuppwkshtamds.pdf

Supreme Court Rules Up for Comment
Rules for the Redaction of Personal Information
The Nebraska Supreme Court invites interested persons to comment on the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Petition to Adopt Rules for the Redaction of Personal Information From Civil Court Documents, S-36-06002, and the proposed request for amendment of such petition filed on September 26, 2007. Comments on the proposed rules, which include Neb. Ct. R. of Dist. Cts. 21 and Appendix 3, as well as Neb. Ct. R. of Cty. Cts. 64 (options 1 and 2), should be made in writing to the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, P.O. Box 98910, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8910, or via e-mail to lasmussen@nsc.state.ne.us, no later than December 14, 2007. The rules are available for review on the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Web site: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/amendments/scNotice26.pdf

The proposed rule changes/additions are available at www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/index.shtml for review or a hard copy may be reviewed in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals upon request.

Back to top

Office of Dispute Resolution
Information Regarding New Parenting Act On-Line
The Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation has created an Internet page for divorcing couples with current and 2008 information. Additional materials will be added as they become available.

Menu items include:
• Information on Nebraska's Original Parenting Act (elements and requirements of the Parenting Act in effect until January 1, 2008)
• The New Parenting Act (what is expected in 2008)
• Do It Yourself Divorce (link to the Self-Help page for individuals who are in agreement regarding children and own little property)
• Parenting Education through Mediation Centers (contact information for Supreme Court ODR Mediation Centers)
• Domestic Abuse (for individuals with concerns about their personal safety or the safety of their children)

Click here to see the new page or from the home page, click on Mediation (left menu) and Parenting/Divorce under Quick Links.

Contact Debora Brownyard, Director, Office of Dispute Resolution, 402-471-2766, dbrownyard@nsc.state.ne.us.

Human Resources
State Employee Salary Increases
We would like to clarify some questions regarding the salary increases of state employees involved with the recent labor contract decisions. Although Supreme Court employees are not covered by any of these contracts, we carefully monitored this process with the hope that the results could support an effort to request an additional adjustment in the coming fiscal year for Supreme Court employees.

Several news stories reported that the Commission on Industrial Relations (CIR) ruling resulted in a 7.5% annual pay increase plus a 2.5% anniversary increase for all employees covered by the contested bargaining unit agreements. It is important for Supreme Court employees to understand that this is not what the majority of employees affected by the CIR’s ruling received. The salary increases were dependent on how classifications compared to similar classifications from other states. While the annual increases span a range of 2.5% - 10.00%, very few employee groups received anything near the top increase. Employees at the top of their pay range will see no raises at all. This fiscal year this includes about 380 employees and next year it could be over 800 employees. Most non-union employees received 3.0%.

There are union covered classifications, particularly in the technical or specialty fields, that will realize significant increases. Our comparisons of several different classifications confirm for us that Supreme Court employees, in most cases, received pay increases that were equal to or greater than their counterparts in union-covered positions. Most employees of the Supreme Court received 4.75% the first year and 2.5% the second year. We will continue to analyze salary data and use it in our efforts to address salary issues in the Supreme Court.

Contact Judy Beutler, Deputy Administrator, 402-471-2921, jbeutler@nsc.state.ne.us.

Information Technology
Local Web Sites Now Linked
The Administrative Office of the Courts is pleased to announce that all 93 district courts and all 93 county courts have Web pages or links to Web pages on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site. The Web pages contain contact information about the courts and in the near future will have links created for credit card payment of waiverable citations via the Internet and case schedule information for those courts using JUSTICE Case Scheduler.

County Court Web Links: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/county-court/county-court-website.shtml
District Court Web Links: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/district-court/dist-court-links.shtml

Contact Bill Miller, Deputy Administrator for Information Technology, 402-471-.3049. bmiller@nsc.state.ne.us.

Back to top

2007 Judicial Branch Education Meetings/Trainings
November 15, Juvenile Sex Offender Management Conference
December 13, JBE Court Administration Certification--H.R. Management, Lincoln

2008 Judicial Branch Education Meetings/Trainings
June 4 – 6, District Judges' Meeting, Grand Island
June 25 – 27, County Judges' Meeting, Omaha
October 22 – 24, Judges' Fall Education Meeting, Omaha
October 7 – 8, Clerk Magistrates/Court Administration Certification Training, Omaha

Contact Carole McMahon-Boies, Director, JBE, 402-471-3072, cmcmahonboies@nsc.state.ne.us.

Upcoming State Holidays
November 12, Veterans Day
November 22 – 23, Thanksgiving Day & Friday following
December 25, Christmas Day
January 1, New Year's Day
January 21, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 18, Presidents' Day
April 25, Arbor Day
May 26, Memorial Day
July 4, Independence Day
September 1, Labor Day
October 13, Columbus Day
November 11, Veteran's Day
November 27 – 28, Thanksgiving Day & Friday following
December 25, Christmas Day

Filing and Reporting Requirements
• Statement for Payment of Interpreters: Interpreter to submit between the 1st and 7th day of each month.
• Judges’ Cases Under Advisement Reports: Due by the 5th day of each month (reports are compiled and submitted to the Supreme Court).
• Court Reporter Timesheets: Due by the 5th day of each month (judges are to sign time sheets prior to submission).
• Permanently Assigned Vehicle Logs: Due by the 5th day of each month.
• Report of Probate Cases Pending: Due by the 10th day of each month.
• County Court Time Sheets: Due by the 10th day of each month.
• Stenographer Transcription Reports: Due by the 10th day of each month.
• Cash Drawer Short/Long Transactions (County Court only): Due by the 10th day of each month.
• Expense Vouchers: Submit on a monthly basis (rather than combining several months of expenses on one voucher).

Back to top