Distinguished Judge Awards
Service to the Community
District Court Judge Paul Korslund of Beatrice was presented with the Distinguished Judge for Service to the Community Award during the annual Judicial Dinner during the October judges' meeting in Omaha. 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 www.supremecourt.ne.gov/press/2008-releases/korslund-award.pdf.

Service to the Judiciary
District Court Judge Patrick Rogers received the Distinguished Judge for Improvement of the Judiciary Award during the awards 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/2008-releases/rogers-award.pdf.

National Adoption Day Celebrations Planned in Four Judicial Districts
This year’s National Adoption Day celebration is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2008.

Festivities are planned in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island (9th Judicial District) and Hastings (10th Judicial District).  The Hamilton County courthouse in Aurora will open Saturday morning for an adoptive family who will celebrate in Grand Island following their hearing.

9th Judicial District:  Celebration begins at 11:00 a.m. with Judge Mac Martin speaking.  The event will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church, 518 West State Street, Grand Island.  (Adoption hearing scheduled for 9:00 a.m. with Judge Linda Caster Senff in Aurora.)

10th Judicial District: Activities begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at noon at the Adams County Fairgrounds.  Judge Offner will host judges from several other districts who are interested in holding celebrations in 2009.

Lincoln: Adoptions start at 8:30 a.m. with a break at 10:00 a.m. for a short news conference where the Chief Justice will address the families.

Omaha: News conference at 8:30 a.m. hosted by Judge Wadie Thomas with adoption hearings and continuous partying beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Contact Janet Bancroft, Public Information Officer, 402-471-3205, janet.bancroft@nebraska.gov.

Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative
Nebraska Center on Children Families and the Law Awarded a Five-Year, $8.7 M Grant
UNL has received a five-year grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau to establish the Midwest Child Welfare Technical Assistance Implementation Center.

The new center aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of child welfare services in Nebraska and nine other states. The center will partner with state agencies, tribes and other child service providers to help them identify obstacles to helping families, to build the capacity of state and tribal child welfare systems and to improve outcomes for children and families involved with these systems.

Read more in the Lincoln Journal Star: www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/11/03/news/local/doc490f1bc504334655455666.txt

Contact Kelli Hauptman, Staff Attorney, Center on Children, Families and the Law, 402-472-3927, khauptman2@unlnotes.unl.edu.

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Gov. Heineman Calling Special Session to Update Nebraska’s Safe Haven Law
Gov. Dave Heineman announced that he will call a special session to amend Nebraska’s Safe Haven law. The session will begin Friday, November 14, 2008.

“After consulting with the Speaker of the Legislature, I am calling a special session for November 14 to correct Nebraska’s Safe Haven law,” Governor Heineman said.  “A proposed three-day Safe Haven law that the legislature has agreed to will be introduced by Speaker Flood on my behalf.”

Governor Heineman added, “This law needs to be changed to focus on its original intent, which is to protect infants.”

LB 157, Nebraska’s Safe Haven law, was passed during this year’s legislative session and became law in July. As of November 3, 2008, there have been 19 instances of families abandoning a child for a total of 27 children since September 13, 2008.

More information about the safe haven law and information on local resources for families are available on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Web site at www.dhhs.ne.gov/SafeHaven.

Contact Janet Bancroft, Public Information Officer, 402-471-3205, janet.bancroft@nebraska.gov.

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New Court Personnel
Kimberly Hubbard, Clerk Magistrate, Cass County, effective November 3, 2008.

2008 Nebraska State Bar Foundation Fellows
The following judges have been inducted into the 2008 Class of Fellows for the Nebraska State Bar Foundation:

Todd J. Hutton, Papillion
John P. Icenogle, Kearney
Douglas F. Johnson, Omaha
Vicky L. Johnson, Wilber
Donald E. Rowlands, North Platte

Programs of the Bar Foundation include the Nebraska High School Mock Trial Program, Law Day Essay Contest, Law Day Job Shadowing, Teen Parents and the Law, We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, Constitution Day School Resources Officer Training, and the Public Education Outreach Promoting Law & Equity Committee: law related education programs and media outreach.

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Committees
Judicial Ethics Committee
Judge Linda Caster Senff of Aurora has been appointed to serve as a member of the Judicial Ethics Committee replacing Judge John Steinheider, whose term expires December 31, 2008. Judge John Colborn will chair the Committee and Judge Carlton Clark will  serve as Vice Chair.  Judge John Steinheider will continue chairing the subcommittee to rewrite the Nebraska Code of Judicial Conduct.

Nebraska District Judges' Association
President: Robert B. Ensz
President-Elect: Brian C. Silverman
Secretary/Treasurer: William B. Zastera

Executive Committee:
James D. Livingston
Patricia A. Lamberty
Karen B. Flowers

Nebraska Separate Juvenile Judges' Association
President: Roger J.Heideman

Nebraska County Judges' Association
President: Robert A. Ide
Vice President: Edward D. Steenburg
Treasurer:  C. Matthew Samuelson
Secretary: Linda S. Caster Senff

Executive Committee:
Donna F. Taylor
James M. Worden
Laurie Yardley

Pro Se Committee
The Pro Se Committee, under the direction of Chairman Judge Dick Sievers, coordinated with several organizations to create a self-help desk pilot project for Nebraska’s pro se litigants.  The Lancaster County Self-Help Desk celebrated its first anniversary a few months ago. Located next to the Clerk of the District Court's office in the Lancaster County Courthouse, the Self-Help Desk is Nebraska's first and only self-help center.

For more information regarding the Lancaster County project, read the Nebraska State Bar Magazine’s article at: http://nebar.com/pdfs/nelawyer/2008/AUG08/0808c.pdf

Judicial Resources Commission
The Judicial Resources Commission held its annual meeting October 16, 2008. Click here to read the minutes from the meeting.

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Open Enrollment
Remember to Enroll
While open enrollment for 2009 benefits continues through November 17, 2008, employees are encouraged to enroll early. Some employees have encountered problems while enrolling and it takes time to get the issue(s) fixed. If employees wait until the last few days and have a problem, they could potentially be without benefits on January 1, 2009.

If you have any questions, please contact your HR department:

Judges, Supreme Court Staff, Court of Appeals Staff, Court Reporters: 
Kathy Moore:  kathy.s.moore@nebraska.gov, 402-471-4428

County Court Staff:          
Eileen Janssen:  eileen.janssen@nebraska.gov, 402-471-4427

Probation Staff: 
Jacki Allensworth:  jacki.allensworth@nebraska.gov, 402-471-2751                                             
Thelma Smith:  thelma.smith@nebraska.gov, 402-471-3573

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Supreme Court Rule Amendments
On October 15, 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court amended Workers' Compensation Court Rules of Procedure 68, Promulgation of rules and regulations. Direct link to the rule amendment that will show the changes that were made (posted on the Web site for a period of 90 days):  www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/amendments/WCCRule68amnds.pdf

On October 21, 2008, the Nebraska Supreme Court amended Nebraska Court Rules of Professional Conduct § 3-501.2(c), Scope of representation and allocation of authority between client and lawyer. Direct link to the rule amendment which will show the changes that were made (posted on the web site for a period of 90 days):  www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/amendments/3-501.2.pdf

If these links do not work from this document, you may use the "Supreme Court Rules" link under "Quick Links" on the right-hand side of the page.

These changes are also incorporated into the full set of rules listed below the rule amendments section on the web page.  All rule changes/additions are available at: www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/index.shtml

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Judicial Branch Education Meetings/Trainings
For a complete listing of Judicial Branch Education offerings, click here.

Contact Carole McMahon-Boies, Director, JBE, 402-471-3072, carole.mcmahon-boies@nebraska.gov.

Probation Education Meetings/Trainings
For a complete listing of Judicial Branch Education offerings, click here.

Contact Monica Miles-Steffens, Probation Education Manager, 402-471-4486, monica.miles-steffens@nebraska.gov.

Upcoming 2008 State Holidays
November 11, Veteran's Day
November 27 – 28, Thanksgiving Day & Friday following
December 25, Christmas Day

2009 State Holidays
January 1, New Year's Day
January 19, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
February 16, President's Day
April 24, Arbor Day
May 25, Memorial Day
July 3, Independence Day
September 7, Labor Day
October 12, Columbus Day
November 11, Veteran's Day
November 26 – 27, Thanksgiving Day & Friday following
December 25, Christmas Day

Filing and Reporting Requirements
•Statement for Payment of Interpreters: Interpreters to submit this 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.
• Expense Vouchers: Submit on a monthly basis (rather than combining several months of expenses on one voucher).

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Publication Ordering Available Online
Court staff may now order publications from the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation online at www.nebraska.gov/courts/ordering/order.cgi. The AOC’s most frequently ordered publications are available through the online order form. The selection includes jury brochures, small claims guides, parenting act booklets, the Citizen's Guide to Nebraska's Courts, judge’s adoption cards, and AOC court staff timecards.

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