Increased Mileage Rate Necessitates 20% Reduction in Judicial Branch Travel
The State of Nebraska uses the IRS standard mileage rates to reimburse personal vehicle mileage. Effective July 1, 2008, the IRS increased the standard rate for the final six months of this year to 58.5 cents per mile. The judicial branch budget for mileage until July 1, 2009, is 44 cents per mile, which was the effective rate when our current biennial budget was approved. There is no additional funding available to cover the increased costs.

Chief Justice Mike Heavican requested district and county court judges to submit plans by July 21, 2008, showing how their district will reduce mileage by 20%. Probation districts have been asked to reduce travel by this same amount. Information containing past travel expenditures and mileage reduction targets has been prepared by the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation and distributed to presiding judges and chief probation officers. Administrative travel for committees, commissions, education and other meetings will likewise be reduced and video and telephone conferences used to the extent feasible. Those responsible for scheduling interpreters are reminded that interpreter travel costs must also be cut and efficient scheduling is essential.

Combining trips, increased carpooling and elimination of any non-essential travel are obvious tools in reducing mileage costs. It is highly recommended that state-issued vehicles be utilized whenever possible. As a reminder, there are TSB Motor Pools in the following locations:

Lincoln: 1501 M Street
Omaha: 1313 Farnam on the Mall
North Platte: Craft State Office Building
Scottsbluff: 4500 Avenue I
Kearney: 802 30th Avenue
Norfolk: 600 East Benjamin

For questions about obtaining a state driver's permit, court staff can call Eileen Janssen at 402-471-4427 and probation staff can call Linda Veerhusen at 402-471-4942.

Cameras Make Their Debut in Courtrooms #32 and #34 of the Lancaster County District Court in Mid-July
The courtrooms of Judges Steven Burns and Karen Flowers are wired and ready to “go live” following months of planning and intricate wiring for camera installation.

The two district court judges agreed to open their courts to cameras in order to give the public and students a better opportunity to see the judicial system from start to finish. For the first time in Lincoln, the media are able to broadcast court proceedings, which means that the public will not have to be seated in the courtroom in order to have the opportunity to get a feel for the activities of the court system.

Courtrooms #32 and #34 now contain two cameras each; one focusing on the attorneys and the other on the judge or witnesses.

“The pilot project is an opportunity to try different modes of bringing media and public into the courtroom. We're experimenting,” Judge Steven Burns said. “It's an opportunity for public to see what's really going on in the courtroom.”

Cameras for the two courtrooms were purchased through a donation by the Nebraska Broadcasters Association. Installation of the equipment became a joint project of the Nebraska Broadcasters, the University of Nebraska, Lancaster County and the Court.

Not everything in the courtroom is available for broadcast. The jury, juveniles, sexual assault victims and other select witnesses will not be shown. Each judge has a master control switch allowing them to cut the power to cameras if they so choose.

The broadcast is also fed directly to University of Nebraska-Lincoln's journalism and law colleges through the Internet. Just prior to the public unveiling of the project, journalism students at the University’s College of Journalism used the system to watch a proceeding in Judge Burns’ courtroom tied to the Mass Media Law curriculum of Professor John Bender.

Reporters wanting to cover cases for commercial news stations are able to access video and audio feeds through media cabinets located next to the courtrooms by calling the District Court Receptionist.

Rules for covering court hearings are found under Rule 3-15 of the Lancaster County District Court.

Nebraska Joins National Movement to Standardize Domestic Abuse Protection Orders Allowing Enforcement from State-to-State
Nebraska has joined a national movement to standardize domestic abuse protection orders by issuing and enforcing a new uniform first page. The revised front page now provides the most critical data for issuing and enforcing the orders. The National Center for State Courts is working to standardize the national template for every state, territory, and tribe through an initiative called, “Project Passport.” Click here to view full press release.

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In Memoriam
Former Cedar County Judge David Curtiss died July 14, 2008. Curtiss served on the bench from 1972 until his retirement in 1988.

Hon. Keith Howard, former Douglas County District Judge, passed away at the end of July. Howard served on the bench from 1979 until his retirement in 1991.

New Probation Personnel
Jennifer Fiscus, Juvenile Intake Probation Officer, District #16, Fremont, effective July 8, 2008.
Shelli Naughton, Probation Officer, District #3, Seward, effective July 14, 2008.
Billie Anderson, Probation Officer, District #4, Omaha, effective July 14, 2008.
Zachary Maxwell, Probation Officer, District #4, Omaha, effective July 21, 2008.

National Association of Probation Executives (NAPE) Names Brokofsky Probation 2008 Executive of the Year
During the its Annual Awards Breakfast on August 3, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the National Association of Probation Executives presented Ellen Fabian Brokofsky, State Probation Administrator for the State of Nebraska, the Sam Houston State University Probation Executive of the Year Award.

Serving as a resourceful and respected Probation professional with 25 years of leadership experience, Brokofsky epitomizes the role of a servant leader.  She focuses on the greater good and the goals Probation professionals in Nebraska have attained, not her individual accomplishments.  She is committed to research, good practice, removing barriers, seeking resources and solutions, and simply doing the best work possible.

Click here to read the full press release.

Presiding Judges for District and Separate Juvenile Courts Announced for 2008
District Courts:
2nd: Randall L. Rehmeier
3rd: Jodi Nelson
4th: Peter C. Bataillon
5th: Michael J. Owens
7th: Robert B. Ensz
8th: Mark D. Kozisek
9th: James D. Livingston
10th: Stephen R. Illingworth
11th: John P. Murphy
12th: Randall Lippstreu

Separate Juvenile Courts:
Douglas: Douglas F. Johnson
Sarpy: Lawrence D. Gendler
Lancaster: Toni G. Thorson

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Judicial Resources Commission
The Judicial Resources Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. (central time) to:


• determine if a judicial vacancy exists in the office of county judge of the 8th Judicial District due to the death of the Honorable August F. Schuman;
• consider a request for an additional judgeship in the district court of the 3rd Judicial District; and
• consider a request that the vacancy in the office of county judge of the 8th Judicial District not be filled, and recommend to the Legislature that an additional judgeship be created in the county court of the 3rd Judicial District.

Click here to view full press release.

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New EAP Provider - Best Care Employee Assistance
Beginning August, 2008, all judges and court/probation employees and dependent family members will be served by a new employee assistance provider, Best Care Employee Assistance. The company will provide a variety of services to help balance the daily challenges of work and home. 

EAP is a confidential program that addresses a variety of personal and workplace issues such as stress, marriage and/or family concerns, financial pressures, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, etc.  A qualified, professional counselor will provide short-term assistance that has the potential to enhance a person's life, from increasing effectiveness at work to strengthening personal relationships.

Information will be sent that explains the features of the new benefit in detail.  Best Care EAP promises the highest quality service, regardless of where a person lives, works or travels. 

Contact Judy Beutler, Deputy Administrator, 402-471-2921, jbeutler@nsc.state.ne.us or Best Care EAP, 800-666-8606.

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Nebraska Supreme Court to Codify Court Rules for Online Retrieval System
At the request of Nebraska lawyers, the Nebraska Supreme Court has undergone a codification and numbering process designed to create a more efficient online retrieval system and an improved citation format.The substance of the Supreme Court rules has not changed by the codification process and, with a few minor exceptions for editing purposes, nor has the text of the rules. The title of several of the rules has been changed in this process, but principally, the codification process only changed the organization of the rules through the application of a numbering system.Click here to view full press release.

Judgment Interest Rate
Effective July 17, 2008, the judgment interest rate is 4.188%.

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Information Technology and JUSTICE
All Nebraska Courts Are Now Offering Online Payment for Traffic Citations Through the Nebraska Judicial Branch’s New ePayment System
Courts in every county in Nebraska are now offering motorists the option to pay traffic tickets online. As of early July, the courts in Banner, Blaine, Butler, Deuel, Dixon, Furnas, Garden, Greeley, Polk, Saline, Sioux, and Wayne are offering drivers who receive payable traffic citations (tickets with a set fine which can be paid without a court appearance) the ability to pay their traffic fines on the Internet through the Nebraska Judicial Branch's new online payment system.

Click here to view full press release.     

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

Judicial Branch Education
Evaluation results from the June county and district judges meetings were overwhelmingly positive.  Speakers for the county judges received very high marks with Tom Clancy from Ole Miss and the Hardcore Drunk Driving presenters ranking at the top.   Twelve district judges joined the county bench at the Hardcore Drunk Driving portion of the meeting which was funded through a grant from Highway Safety.

Community Corrections approved a one year grant of $146,000 which will be utilized to design and deliver online training for probation/court staff.  This effort, begun by Ellen Brokofsky, is an invaluable step in the development of quality online learning for employees and judges. 

2009 Education Dates Set
The schedule has been set for the following 2009 education meetings. Additional meeting dates will be provided when they are available.

• District Judges, Court Reporters and Clerks of the District Court: June 2 - 4, Kearney
• County Judges: June 24 - June 26, Grand Island
• Fall Judges' Meeting: October 14 - 16, Omaha

2010 Education Dates Set:
The schedule has been set for the following 2010 education meetings. Specific locations have yet to be determined. Additional meeting dates will be provided when they are available.

• District Judges:   June 9 - 11
• County Judges:   June 23 - 25

Probation
50th Anniversary Celebration
National Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Officers’ Week was July 13 – 19, 2008, and set the stage for Probation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.

See Judicial News Special Events Publication on Probation’s 50th. Click here to view full press release.

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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, cmcmahonboies@nsc.state.ne.us.

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@nsc.ne.gov.

Upcoming 2008 State Holidays
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: 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.

Signature Blocks on Emails
Officials of the Administrative Office of the Courts appreciate court employees who have added the signature feature to their emails. It is a great help to those who work several towns or courthouses away from each other. Those individuals not already using a signature block may want to consider adding one to work email messages. To add a signature block, locate the 'options' button (usually near the file folder). Under 'options,' select the 'compose' button. Scroll down to the option for a 'signature.' Most employees include full name, title, address (both street address and P.O. Box, if applicable) and phone number. The email address may also be added; however, this may be redundant due to it being on the email itself.

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