§ 1-513. Public access to Judicial Branch Education (JBE) records.

§ 1-513. Public access to Judicial Branch Education (JBE) records.

   (A) Unless otherwise provided in this section, JBE records shall be deemed to be public records within the meaning of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.01 and shall be available to the public in accordance with the Nebraska Public Records Act.

   (B) JBE public records shall include the following:

   (1) Records showing the agenda for education or training programs or presentations.

   (2) Records showing the identity of presenters at education or training programs or presentations.

   (3) Contracts or records for payment for the provision of education or training programs or presentations.

   (4) Records showing the content of education or training programs or presentations given by outside or private presenters, including all handouts, presentations, and recordings, except such portions of any recordings governed by subsection (C)(7) below, and as long as express written consent is granted by the author for the release of the materials.

   (C) For purposes of this section, all other JBE records not identified in subsection (B) above shall be deemed confidential and not public records, including but not limited to:

   (1) Records that may be withheld from the public pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.05.

   (2) Records showing persons who registered or attended education or training programs or presentations.

   (3) Records showing the content of education or training programs or presentations, including all handouts, presentations, and recordings when the presenter is an officer or employee of the Nebraska judicial branch.

   (4) Examinations, worksheets, evaluations, or other material completed by persons attending education or training programs or presentations.

   (5) Notes taken by persons attending education or training programs or presentations.

   (6) Communications, including emails, regarding the selection and hiring of presenters, and the content to be presented.

   (7) Questions or comments by the persons attending education or training programs or presentations, whether in written form or as part of a recording.

   (8) Records showing credits or hours received or claimed by persons attending education or training programs or presentations.

   (9) Files, records, and proceedings as set forth in § 1-507(D).

   (D) Portions of a record that qualify as a JBE public record may nonetheless be given confidential treatment if the State Court Administrator finds that keeping such portions confidential is necessary to preserve the essential functions of the judicial branch.

   (E) In no event shall this section be construed to infringe upon the judicial deliberations privilege, which covers a judge's mental impressions and thought processes in reaching a judicial decision, whether harbored internally or memorialized in other nonpublic materials. The privilege also protects confidential communications among judges and between judges and court staff made in the course of and related to their deliberative processes in particular cases.

§ 1-513 adopted September 5, 2018.