Administrative Memorandum 07-11 | November 2007
SPECIAL PROJECTS & EVENTS
National Adoption Day 2007 Successful in Nebraska Omaha held hearings for 50 children, Lincoln for 21, and Hastings (10th Judicial District) for 7. Each court planned festive parties for children, families and friends. Omaha’s party, hosted by Judge Wadie Thomas, was attended by hundreds of well-wishers who packed themselves into the City-County Building at 19th & Farnam Streets for over four hours. Both Chief Justice Heavican and newly appointed children and family services director for HHS, Todd Landry, spoke at the Omaha press conference. Chief Justice Heavican said adoptions of wards in the state last year increased by 50 percent over the previous three years. Still, more than 190 children are waiting to be adopted. Todd Landry added that many children are between the ages of 8 and 17, saying that "All children deserve to grow up in a loving and stable family." Lincoln’s party included a guest appearance by former Separate Juvenile Court Judge Tom Dawson and included new juvenile court judges, Reggie Ryder and Roger Heideman. The event, hosted by Judge Linda Porter, featured a proclamation signed by Lincoln's mayor and a party that filled the entire floor of the courthouse. The 10th Judicial District’s party, hosted by Judge Michael Offner, was held at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Hastings in order to accommodate celebrations for all 59 adoptions which were finalized in the nine-county district this year. Organizers chose a race car-themed celebration that symbolized reaching the finish line, Offner said. Adding to the statewide festivities, Grand Island adoption specialists organized a community celebration to recognize families who had adopted during the last year. This is the eighth year that Douglas County Separate Juvenile Court has hosted National Adoption Day and the third year for both Lancaster County Separate Juvenile Court and the 10th Judicial District County Courts. National Adoption Day is held annually to raise awareness of the more than 114,000 foster children around the nation who need adoptive homes.
Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative Contact Kelli Hauptman, Staff Attorney, Center on Children, Families and the Law, 402-472-3927, khauptman2@unlnotes.unl.edu. |
PEOPLE
Probation System Gives Annual Awards to Employees Bob Lowe was awarded the 2007 LaDonna Snell Award for his diligence, his incredible organizational and time-management skills, and his concern for his clients. According to his coworkers, Bob is a creative problem solver who takes no credit for the successes of his clients; although he is instrumental in making sure his clients have the opportunity for success. Bob has taken a leadership role in improving and enhancing relations between the district and those with whom they work. Partnering agencies know they can count on Bob to respond to their concerns and needs and, as a result, enhance the service to clients. Bob is a former Public Relations Committee member who is currently serving on the Fall 2008 Probation Conference Committee. Bob also serves as intern coordinator for the district. After joining the probation system in June 1995 as a probation officer in the Norfolk office, Bob became a Senior Probation Officer for probation in July 1999 District #2 (Cuming, Stanton, Madison, Wayne, Pierce, Antelope, Knox, Boyd, Holt, Rock, Brown, Keya Paha and Cherry counties). Bob Keller Award Grady Porter was nominated for the 2007 Bob Keller Award for his development and revision of the District #18 office manual and his work excellence. Given his personable, thoughtful nature and dependability, Grady epitomizes what is great about probation employees. According to his nomination, “when things get tough, you can count on Grady being there to offer a hand.” Grady currently serves on probation’s Information Technology Committee and is certified in UNL Business Management courses. He previously served on probation’s Juvenile Committee and also was an officer safety trainer. In February 1990, Grady began his Nebraska probation career in the District #18 dependency/neglect unit, after which he quickly became a Juvenile ISP Coordinator. When Adult and Juvenile ISP were merged in Region E, Grady returned to supervising cases in South Omaha. On January 1, 2002, Grady was promoted to Chief Deputy of District #18. Jean Miller Award Bonnie Willey, recipient of the 2007 Jean Miller Award, was nominated for her unfaltering dedication to the probation system. Jean is well known for dropping anything she is doing to assist officers when needed. She credits much of her optimism and spirit to Chief Probation Officer Jim Fahy and Chief Deputy Grady Porter whom, she says, have been excellent mentors. Bonnie began her employment with probation in the juvenile office in Omaha on August 18, 1997, and was named Office Manager two years later. She supervises five support staff in the District #18 office. |
COMMITTEES · COMMISSIONS
Nebraska Judicial Resources Commission A general discussion was had concerning proposals to recommend to the Legislature that Colfax County be moved to the 6th Judicial District and that Saunders County be moved to the 3rd Judicial District. No motion was made and the matter died for lack of motion. The Commission considered the report of the NSBA’s Judicial Structure and Administrative Task Force and unanimously adopted both the report and the recommendations of the task force. Discussion was held regarding a request that the Commission recommend to the Legislature the creation of an additional District Judgeship in the 3rd Judicial District. The Commission voted to recommend to the Legislature that an additional judgeship be created in the 3rd Judicial District. A similar motion recommending the creation of an additional County Judgeship in the 3rd Judicial District was also passed. Discussion was had concerning items specific to the Commission’s annual meeting. The Commission considered whether (1) a new judgeship is appropriate in any judicial district or a reduction in judgeships is appropriate in any judicial district, or (2) the judicial district boundaries or the number of judicial districts should be changed for the district or county courts. No additional recommendations were made with regard to the above. |
PAYROLL / BENEFITS
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RULE, FORM AND POLICY CHANGES
Supreme Court Rule Amendments On November 15, 2007, the Nebraska Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Trust Accounts and Blanket Bonds Rules and its Appendix 1. View on the Judicial Branch Web site: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/amendments/TrustAccountsAmd.pdf Experimental rules for broadcast audio coverage of courtroom proceedings in front of District Court Judges Paul W. Korslund and Daniel E. Bryan were approved November 21. The rules are listed on the “Trial Court Rules Page” under District 1: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/trial-court-rules.shtml 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. |
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS & PROBATION
Office of Dispute Resolution a) Approved Parenting Education Guidelines and Application Process: the State Court Administrator has approved guidelines for basic level and second level parenting education in divorce and education for children of divorce. Under the Act, all parents involved in Chapter 42 cases regarding parenting plans are to participate in the basic level parent education classes. Court-referred parenting education providers are to apply for State Court Administrator approval according to the Act. An interim approval process requests applicants to submit an approval packet to the State Court Administrator by December 10. The packet and information is located on the Supreme Court Web site at: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/mediation/pdf/Parent_Ed_Providers_Appln.pdf b) Approved Attorney Education Guidelines for Domestic Intimate Partner Abuse: these guidelines were approved by the State Court Administrator in mid-November. The NSBA's NCLE Office has scheduled three workshops for the required attorney education: Lincoln, December 7, UNL College of Law; Omaha, January 4, Creighton Law School; and North Platte, February 8, Mid Plains Community College. For more information, contact Kathryn Bellman at 402-475-7091. c) Clerk of the District Court materials: the State Court Administrator's Office is working with the Clerks of the District Court to provide statutorily required materials to parties under the Act. A new single Parenting Act brochure will replace the four-brochure packet currently in use. This information is scheduled to be distributed in final form at the December 12 meeting of the Clerks of the District Court. d) Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution training: the Office of Dispute Resolution is working with the Nebraska Mediation Center Association to approve learning objectives and schedule early 2008 sessions for the required twenty-four hour advanced family mediator/facilitator training for facililitating a specialized caucus-based negotiation process for parents. This process will address safety, unequal negotiating control, or coercion that may be present in certain couple relationships so that a parenting plan may be developed to decrease the child's exposure to potentially harmful parental conflict. e) Parenting Act Policies and Rules: the Office of Dispute Resolution has created three working committees to address statutorily required policies and rules: (1) Parenting Act Rules; (2) enhanced Mediator Standards and Ethics; and (3) Parenting Act Fund. District court judges interested and willing to participate on any of these three committees are asked to contact Debora Brownyard before December 15.
Human Resources
Judicial Branch Education On November 15, 2007, 40 attendees attended a grant-funded presentation by the Center for Effective Public Policy regarding the best practices in treating juvenile sex offenders. Nebraska judges with juvenile jurisdiction participated in the one-day event at Mahoney State Park. The first installment of the Nebraska Supreme Court Judicial Administration Certification program will take place December 13, 2007, with a presentation regarding employment law and best practices in human resource management. This will be offered to clerk magistrates and clerks of the district court in conjunction with the NACO December Conference, with online registration currently taking place. The Judicial Branch Education Advisory Committee voted to increase the judge’s education requirements to 12 credit hours per year. The step was partly in reaction to the mandatory NCLE credit requirement of 12 hours. Final vote on the amended rule is on the February agenda for the Advisory Board.
Office of Probation Administration The Office of Probation Administration has hired Corey Steel to be the Juvenile Justice Specialist. Mr. Steel comes to Probation Administration with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a Masters Degree from Doane College in Management and Leadership. He has worked for Lancaster County for the past seven years as the Juvenile Justice Coordinator. Prior to Lancaster County, he was a State Probation Officer in Lincoln and Fremont for two years. He has worked in the field of Juvenile Justice since 1998. Mr. Steel’s work through the Office of Probation Administration will be working toward a more seamless juvenile justice system. This will entail working closely with the courts across Nebraska. This will also encompass building a bridge between Probation and HHSS/OJS to assure the best interests of youth and families. Mr. Steel will work to transform juvenile probation supervision strategies to include Evidence-Based Practices. He will monitor juvenile related legislation. He will conduct a needs assessment for juvenile specialized programming and conduct an examination of juvenile intake and the issues surrounding it. In order to maintain a comprehensive juvenile justice system, he will be collaborating with agencies on statewide and local initiatives.
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CALENDAR ITEMS
2007 Judicial Branch Education Meetings/Trainings 2008 Judicial Branch Education Meetings/Trainings
Upcoming State Holidays Filing and Reporting Requirements |
Chief Justice Michael G. Heavican
Janice K. Walker, State Court Administrator
Ellen Fabian Brokofsky, State Probation Administrator
This file last modified Thursday November 29, 2007 09:44:18