Open Enrollment
Open enrollment begins May 2, 2011, at 7:00 a.m. CT, and ends on May 20, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. CT.  This is for the plan year July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012. 

All full-time employees must go into the EnterpriseOne (Edge/NIS) system (http://edge.ne.gov) and either enroll or waive their choices for health, dental, vision and flex spending.  Eligible part-time employees must complete paper forms (which have been emailed to them) and return them by May 16, 2011.

Employees wishing to make changes to their current life or long-term disability benefits must click on the link during the open enrollment process, print the forms, and mail them to their HR contact.  Current life and long-term disability benefits will remain as you currently have them unless you make a change.

For answers to questions you may have, The Enrollment Guide and Open Enrollment Meeting Videos are available on-line at http://www.das.state.ne.us/personnel/benefits/index.html.

HR Contacts:
All Judges, Appellate Court Staff, Court Reporters
            Kathy Moore – Kathy.S.Moore@Nebraska.Gov

All Probation Staff
            Jacki Allensworth – Jacki.Allensworth@Nebraska.Gov
            Thelma Smith – Thelma.Smith@Nebraska.Gov

County Court Staff other than Judges
            Eileen Janssen – Eileen.Janssen@Nebraska.Gov

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Supreme Court Holds Oral Arguments at Creighton School of Law
As part of its annual outreach to Nebraska Law Schools, the State Supreme Court held oral arguments at Creighton School of Law in Omaha.  Arguments were heard before opening the session to students’ questions for the justices.  Several members of the Omaha media attended the session to report on cases: Omaha World Herald, KETV, WOW-T and  KPTM Fox 42.

Click here to view more photos of the event.  

Reunification Day Planning Underway
The 2011 National Reunification Day is fast approaching.  The period the American Bar Association (ABA) has set for celebrations is between Mother's Day (May 8) and Father's Day (June 19).  The purpose of the Family Reunification Day event is three-fold:

• To celebrate the accomplishments of families who have overcome an array of challenges to reunify safely and successfully.
• To recognize the vital role that community partners, including mental health and substance abuse providers, courts and judges, foster parents and others, play in helping to reunify, strengthen and support families.
• To inspire other parents, particularly those going through the recovery process, that it is possible to confront and resolve the issues that led to their separation, and to reunify with their children.

There is additional information on the ABA website: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/child_law/projects_initiatives/nrd.html.  

Last year, several Nebraska ‘Eyes of a Child’ initiative teams hosted Reunification Days in their communities.  This year the following courts are planning celebrations:

• Omaha
• Lincoln
• York
• O'Neill
• Hastings

Please contact Janet Bancroft or Kelli Hauptman if you are planning to host a celebration in your community.

County Government Day in Gering
Dozens of area high school students participated in County Government Day April 12, 2011, in Gering. County Court Judge Kris Mickey participated by presiding over a mock trial. Click here to read more.

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Court’s Use of Electronics Saves Reams of Paper
A side benefit of emailing and e-filing is often measured in the number of trees saved. The following calculations are rough estimates of trees and paper saved through Nebraska court e-filing:

Emailed garnishments: In 22 days there were 1,674 received. Approximately 76.09 per day; times 250 court days per year which totals 19,022 garnishments per year. Each email saves 6 pages of paper...which equates to 114,136 sheets of paper per year saved.

Emailed garnishments (debtor notice only): In 15 days there were 701 emailed. About 46.73 per day; times 250 court days per year means 11,683 notices per year. Each saves 2 pages or 23,366 sheets of paper per year.

Emailed summons: In 11 days there were 884 emailed. About 80.36 per day; times 250 court days per year equals 20,090 summons per year. Each saves 2 pages or 40,181 sheet of paper per year.

Together this is a total of 177,683 sheets of paper or 355 reams each year.  At 2 inches per ream the stack of paper would go 60 feet high.

Contact Bill Miller, Deputy Court Administrator for Technology, 402-471-3049, william.miller@nebraska.gov.

Interpreter Program
Interpreter Oral Exams will be given May 6 and 7, 2011.  Interpreter candidates will be tested for certification in Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, French and Russian.

Contact Sheryl Connolly, Director of Trial Court Services, 402-471-2671, sheryl.connolly@nebraska.gov.

New Fill-in forms for District Court
The following forms requested by Clerks of District Court are now available on the website in a fill-in format.

DC1:1    Certificate of Authentication
DC3:1    Appearance Bond
DC3:2    Bond Assignment
DC4:4    Certificate of Cancellation of Tax Sale Certificate
DC4:5    Subpeona for Production of Documents
DC4:6    Notice of Registration of Order
DC6:5(15)   Certificate of Clerk’s Dissemination of Parenting Plan Informational Material
DC8:2    Petit Jury Summons

Forms are located on the Judicial Branch Web site under “District Court”:  http://supremecourt.ne.gov/forms/index.shtml#district.

Judicial Branch Education
Click here to view upcoming education opportunities (click on "calendar" located next to 'search for courses').

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

Contact Alicia Guerra, Administrative Assistant, 402-471-0275, alicia.guerra@nebraska.gov.

Probation Administration
Work Ethic Camp Update
The Work Ethic Camp is adding a program for the development of wind manufacturing energies through the Department of Labor.  The “SyNEergy” Program will expand the welding program offered at the Work Ethic Camp and provide offenders with transferable employment skills when returning to the community.  The camp is currently operating at an all-time low for the number of probationers participating (49) in comparison to its combined population of (179).

Mental Health and Co-Occurring Disorder Initiative
A pilot project in Judicial Districts 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 11 is set to kick off in July as the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation implements its Mental Health and Co-Occurring 2-year Grant Project.  The project will provide limited adult and juvenile funding for mental health, co-occurring disorders, and sex offender evaluations.  It includes evaluations for juveniles who sexually harm, as well as evaluations for individuals under presentence/predispositional investigation.  In addition, the grant will provide enhanced education in mental health for judges and probation staff statewide.  Look for more information to be distributed soon.

Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM)
The CAM 2010 Year-End Report for Nebraska indicates an 87% compliance rate from offenders wearing alcohol monitoring technology. Three-year trends indicate that non-compliance rates declined 6% in 2010 while the CAM Program population increased (962). Equipment tampering continues to be the primary reason for non-compliance reports (14%) vs. confirmed drinking events (6%). Probation continues to monitor non-compliance and tampering on a regular basis.

Contact Deb Minardi, Deputy Probation Adminstrator for Programs and Services, 402-471-3525, deb.minardi@nebraska.gov.

Interstate Commission for Juveniles (ICJ):  Judicial Bench Book Available
The Interstate Commission for Juveniles (ICJ) has developed a Web site, online trainings, and just recently published the “Bench Book for Judges & Court Personnel.”  These resources were developed to assist judges, attorneys, probation and parole officers, and any person needing information about Interstate Compact and its rules. 

The Interstate Commission for Juveniles is responsible for transferring supervision of juveniles on probation and parole who wish to relocate to other states.  The compact also assists with the safe return of runaways, escapees, and absconders.  The Interstate Commission for Juveniles (ICJ) was enacted in 2008. Nebraska became signatory to the compact August 31, 2009, pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-1011.  Since its enactment, new updated rules have been developed by all signatory states.  The new rules are voted on annually and all new rules went into effect January 1, 2011. 

Available resources can be accessed at www.juvenilecompact.org.

Download the Bench Book; overview of legal procedures when utilizing the juvenile compact: http://www.juvenilecompact.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=hP5YtZN5GWU%3d&ta.

For Adult Offenders:  The new rules for the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS) went into effect March 1, 2011.  All available resources, training, and bench book can be found a www.interstatecompact.org.

Contact Kari Rumbaugh, Deputy Compact Administrator, 402-471-2855, kari.rumbaugh@nebraska.gov.

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Judge Robert Ide Named Outstanding Judge by CASA
Hon. Robert Ide, Judge of the County Court, 10th Judicial District, was designated as  Outstanding Judge during the Court Appointed Special Advocate’s ‘Heroes for Children’ ceremony on Saturday, April 16, 2011, in Kearney, Nebraska.

Joined by Haley Graupner (pictured), a former CASA youth, Judge Ide accepted the award following the introduction reprinted below:

At the heart of every successful CASA program is the support and commitment of a dedicated Judge. Nebraska CASA Association is pleased to recognize The Honorable Robert Ide’s outstanding contributions as a Judge who has furthered the best interests of children through the CASA concept.

Judge Ide appoints a CASA volunteer within 24 hours of a petition being filed, going so far as coming in on a Saturday to sign a CASA appointment. He believes that the assistance of a CASA volunteer is invaluable in terms of benefits to the children and to the system.  

Judge Ide has been instrumental in expanding CASA into Phelps, Harlan, and Kearney counties. He writes letters of support, participates in all CASA volunteer trainings, swears in all CASA volunteers, and lends his support of CASA with County Commissioners and key community stakeholders.

Area attorney Nathaniel DeWald says of our Outstanding Judge: “Judge Ide’s support of CASA, both in and out of the Courtroom, is impressive. In Court cases in which CASA is present, the representative is afforded the same respect and is given the same voice as any other person in the Courtroom. In public meeting outside of the Courtroom . . . he is equally supportive.”

Phelps/Harlan County CASA Program Director Christina McIntire says, “It is evident that Judge Ide has a passion for children and does everything in his power to enhance the welfare of those children who end up in our court system.”

Probation Officer Honored for Work on Law Memorial
Probation Officer Diane Collins received an award from the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial Committee for her work on the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at the Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island. Collins, who became a probation officer in August 1983, has been instrumental in coordinating annual services to help commemorate National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day at the state memorial in Grand Island.

Click here to read the full story in the Grand Island Daily Independent.

Probation Names Interim Acting Chief Probation Officers
Click on the following for more information:

• Corey Steel named Interim Acting Chief Juvenile Probation Officer for the Douglas County Separate Juvenile Court Probation District 4J

• Chief Deputy Shane Stutzman named Interim Acting Chief Probation Officer for Probation District #5

• Chief Deputy Cliff Wolf named Interim Acting Chief Probation Officer for Probation District #1
  

Long-time Chief Probation Officers Retire
Click on the following for more information:

• District #4 Juvenile Chief Probation Officer James Fahy Retires March 31, 2011

• District #5 Chief Probation Officer Richard Chisholm Retires April 8, 2011
  

Judge Carlson Dies
Judge Theodore L. Carlson of the Nebraska Court of Appeals died April 16, 2011, at the age of 72. He was appointed to the Court of Appeals by then-Gov. Ben Nelson in 1998.

Carlson spent nearly 40 years as a judge. Before joining the appeals court, he was a judge of the Douglas County District Court and the former Omaha Municipal Court.

Carlson also worked in private practice in Omaha and as an assistant city attorney and prosecutor.

Click here to read full story in the Omaha World Herald.

Upcoming Retirements
The following judges have announced their upcoming retirements:

Hon. Lyn V. White, County Court, 4th Judicial District, May 16, 2011.
Hon. Marvin V. Miller, County Court, 5th Judicial District, May 31, 2011.
Hon. David A. Bush, County Court, 9th Judicial District, May 31, 2011.
Hon. Jeffre Cheuvront, District Court, 3rd Judicial District, July 31, 2011.
Hon. John P. Murphy, District Court, 11th Judicial District, August 1, 2011.
Hon. Charles Plantz, County Court, 12th Judicial District, December 31, 2011.

New Court Personnel
Jason Fredenburg, Bailiff/Courtroom Clerk, Lancaster County Court, effective April 18, 2011.

New Probation Personnel
Jessica Ghiai, Probation Officer, District #4J, Omaha, effective April 15, 2011.
JoJo Inslo, Probation Officer, District #5, Columbus, effective April 18, 2011.
Nicole Greve, Probation Officer, District #1, Beatrice, effective May 16, 2011.

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Judicial Nominating Commission
The Judicial Nominating Commission for the Court of Appeals has set a hearing date of June 13, 2011, in Omaha (due to the death of Judge Theodore L. Carlson).

Appellate level positions are not subject to review by the Judicial Resources Commission and, according to statute, must be set within 60 days of the vacancy.  Prior to the application deadline of May 23, 2011, the boundaries of the Court of Appeals may change due to legislative redistricting.  Applicants and interested individuals are asked to check the Judicial Branch Web site front page for updates.

Click here for full release.

PEOPLE Committee Fulfills Request for Court Presentation at Associated Press Education Session 
News print journalists, in Lincoln for their annual conference on April 15, 2011, attended a seminar on court and probation resources sponsored by the Associated Press.

Jennifer Rasmussen, Project Manager at Nebraska.gov, reviewed the JUSTICE Court Computer System, the online calendar, and other online resources. Steve Rowoldt, Deputy Probation Administrator, reviewed alternatives to incarceration and why the attention to alternatives has increased in the past couple of months.  He led reporters in an exercise of headline writing and reviewed the differences between branches of government.

According to Tena Heraldson, AP regional manager, “I noticed people scribbling down notes and story ideas around the room. The AP news editor and our new Lincoln correspondent both attended, and said the presentation helped them with background in the Nebraska court record and probation system.”

The PEOPLE Committee will present a similar session to broadcast reporters in Papillion in August.

Judge, Senator, and Bar Foundation Coordinate Programming with New Legislation
Judge John Irwin, newly appointed Chairman of iCivics Nebraska; Senator Rich Pahls; and Bar Foundation Executive Director Doris Huffman met April 26, 2011, to discuss common interests between iCivics, LB544, Law Related Education, and the State Civics Advisory Board.  Slated for passage this year, LB 544 amends Nebraska's existing Americanism law, which requires high school civics teachers to teach the duties of citizenship, giving specific attention to the U.S. and Nebraska Constitution.

“We're trying to say, as young adults, listen to the other person, not necessarily to agree with them, but treat them with respect,” said State Sen. Rich Pahls of Omaha, a former school administrator who introduced LB 544 and designated it as his priority bill.  Click here to read the full article about LB544 in the Omaha World Herald.

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Judgment Interest Rate
Effective April 21, 2011, the judgment interest rate is 2.132%.
http://supremecourt.ne.gov/community/judgment-interest-rate.shtml

Judicial Financial Interest Statements
Judicial Financial Interest Statements (JFIS) for the period ending December 31, 2010, must be filed no later than May 1, 2011.

Please remember you are reporting financial information for the year 2010; thus, you will need to complete the JFIS found in the 1992 Nebraska Code of Judicial Conduct, Neb. Code of Judicial Conduct, §§ 5-201 to 5-205. The “new” JFIS in the Nebraska Revised Code of Judicial Conduct, which becomes effective on January 1, 2011, should NOT be used for 2010 reporting.

Those required to complete the form are all judges, full-time clerk magistrates, and child support referees.

• Judicial Financial Interest Statement
• Instructions

Proposed Rule Amendments For Comment
Uniform Standards for Court-Appointed Counsel Proposed Rule for Comment
(comment period ends June 1, 2011)

Rule Amendments (made within the last 90 days)
Neb. Ct. R. § 3-401.12 (Mandatory Continuing Legal Education for Lawyers)
(adopted April 21, 2011)

Rules of the District Court of the First Judicial District
(approved April 13, 2011)
Effective July 1, 2011: Neb. Ct. R. § 3-106 (Admission Requirements for the Practice of Law)  According to the Admission Requirements rule (Neb. Ct. R. § 3-106) beginning July1, 2011, clerks will begin to collect a fee of $250.00 when an attorney who is not a member of NSBA petitions to provide representation in a case on a pro hac vice basis. 

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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.
• Stenographer Transcription Reports: Due by the 10th 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.
• 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 order publications from the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation (AOC/P) online at www.nebraska.gov/courts/ordering/order.cgi. The AOC/P’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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