New Legislation
The legislative bill listing with items of interest to the Judicial Branch and effective dates of legislationcan be found here.


New Legislation Education
Education on this year’s legislative changes will be provided via Webinar through the Judicial Branch Education Office on the following days:

• May 16: Legislative Update for Court Staff, 11:00 a.m. CDT
• May 25: Legislative Update for County Judges, 12:00 p.m. CDT
• District Judges will be given an update during their June meeting

To obtain a link to the webinars, use “JBE Online Registration” to register for the webinar and then access the “Current Schedule” to retrieve the link.  Look for the link labeled “Click here to enter your webinar” to enter the webinar.  Webinars can accommodate 100 participants.  In the event a webinar is full, the link to the recording will be posted on http://nebraskajbe.org as soon it becomes available (generally the same day).  If you need assistance or have questions, contact Diona Hartwig at 402-471-0005 or Alicia Guerra at 402-471-0275

Chief Justice Heavican and Chief Judge Inbody Author Law Day Messages


In celebration of Law Day, May 1, several members of the legal community were asked to write guest columns for the Omaha Daily Record annual Law Day issue.  This year’s American Bar Association theme was:  No Courts ● No Justice ● No Freedom.

This year the Chief Justice authored an article on the court system's interest in protecting families and children, and constructive intervention with court-involved children.  Chief Judge Inbody wrote an open thank you to Nebraska voters for their long history of support of the branch.  Read both articles here.

Law Day Essay Contest Addresses “Democracy and the Right to Vote”
With 2012 being a presidential election year, the Nebraska Secretary of State, John Gale, agreed to partner with the Bar Foundation and the Nebraska Supreme Court to sponsor this year's 13th annual Law Day Essay Contest.

Student winners of the essay contest were:

• Julianna Curley, 9th grade, Omaha Marian High School      
• Luciano Ramirez, 10th grade, Lexington High School                         
• Grace Carhart, 11th grade, Bloomfield High School     
• Allie Fisher, 12th grade, Omaha Westside High School   

During the annual Law Day Essay Contest luncheon, each student was presented an award by the Chief Justice. Students, along with their families and teachers comprised the live audience for the voting debate following the lunch.  The program was sent via online technology to schools around Lincoln as well as to Lexington and Osmond.  The debate, moderated by Secretary of State Gale, centered on the question of the need for mandatory voting. Panelists Mike Nelsen, Omaha Attorney, and Eric Berger, Assistant Professor of Law at UNL College of Law, addressed the topic directly and answered questions from the audience.

Read more about the contest on the State Bar Foundation’s Web site: http://www.nebarfnd.org/news-2012-law-day-essay-contest

Photo: Secretary of State John Gale; Mike Nelsen, Omaha; and Eric Berger, Lincoln .

Law School Educational Outreach
The Nebraska Supreme Court held oral arguments at the UNL College of Law in February, and in April the Court met in Omaha at Creighton University School of Law.  Both law school visits are annual events where the justices entertain questions regarding the function and process of the Court following oral arguments. 

This year the Court of Appeals has been invited to hold arguments at Peru State College in September 2012.  The Court of Appeals travels throughout the state for court sessions in Omaha, North Platte, Kearney, Papillion, and Norfolk.

Judges from both courts regularly participate in educational outreach sessions for students and the public.  Most events center on Law Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (September 17).

Click here to read an article from the Omaha Daily Record regarding the arguments at Creighton.

Photo: Justices and Judges at Creighton on April 5, 2012. (L to R) Miller-Lerman, Stephan, Irwin, Heavican, Connolly, McCormack, and Pirtle

Awards Ceremony of the 20th Anniversary of the Dispute Resolution Act
Hon. Mike Pirtle, Nebraska Court of Appeals, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Awards Ceremony of the 20th Anniversary of the Dispute Resolution Act, held April 13, 2012, at Omaha’s Field Club. Eighteen individuals were lauded for their foundational and sustaining efforts in building mediation and ADR in Nebraska. Included in these awards were Hon. Robert O. Hippe and Prof. Ron Volkmer, both who served as chair of the Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Council; Hon. Daniel Beckwith, currently working in justice and peace in Afghanistan; Kathleen Severens, Wendy Hind, and Debora Brownyard, past and current directors of the Office of Dispute Resolution;  Carol Dart, Central Mediation Center mediator and training coordinator; Dr. Vicky Weisz, NCCFL; and Senators Dave Landis, Brad Ashford, and Mike Flood, for their leadership in mediation legislation. Keynote speaker for the Nebraska Mediation Association Annual Meeting held in tandem with the event was Nancy Hardin Rogers, the Moritz Chair in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Ohio State University College of Law.

Click here to view a slideshow of the event.

Photo: Judge Mike Pirtle, Kathleen Severens, first director of ODR, with Debora Brownyard, current director of ODR.

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Nebraska Supreme Court’s Probation Administration Begins Work on Implementation of LB 985 (Nebraska Juvenile Service Delivery Project)
Work by the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Probation Administration has begun on the implementation of legislation designed to provide needed services for juveniles and families who are in the juvenile court system.

LB 985 (Nebraska Juvenile Service Delivery Project) was signed by the Governor on April 5, 2012. The legislation expands a very successful project that was piloted in Douglas County to the 11th and 12th Judicial Districts. Thus, the Project will operate in the southwestern portion of the state, the panhandle, and in Omaha.

"Probation will work with the judiciary, DHHS, and community providers for juvenile services in the western part of the state to assist in the implementation of this project,” said Corey Steel, current director for the pilot program for the Office of Probation Administration. “We are looking forward to providing the court with timely access to quality services with the hope of keeping more juveniles in their family homes on both ends of the state.”

Click here to read the full press release.

Judicial Branch Education
Training Opportunities
Click here to view upcoming JBE-sponsored education opportunities. (Click on "calendar" located next to "search for courses".)   Online registration is currently open for the following education opportunities:

Court

• Appellate Judges' Meeting, May 17, 2012, Omaha
• District Judges’ Meeting, June 6 - 8, 2012, Nebraska City
• Public Health Law & Science for Judges, June 7, 2012, Nebraska City
• Annual Fall Judges' Meeting, October 24 - 26, 2012, Omaha
• JUSTICE Training for 2012 (see dates below)
• Multiple webinars on legislative updates, Court’s strategic plan and leadership development (see the online calendar for dates and time)

Probation

• Domestic Violence Offender Management Trainings (online; 2 spots remain), begins May 20, 2012
• MRT, 3-Day Course, begins June 19, 2012. Registration deadline: June 5, 2012
• Advanced Officer Training Week, begins June 25, 2012. Registration deadline: June 11, 2012

JUSTICE Training
Dates for 2012 JUSTICE training for county and district courts have been set.  Court staff can see all training dates set for 2012 on the “Calendar of Live Education” events on the JBE online registration Web site or from the link on this Web page: http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/jbe/jbe-ed-programs.shtml.  There is a minimum of three attendees and a maximum of six attendees at each session.  Training will not be scheduled if there are fewer than three registered for a session. Online registration will close two weeks prior to the training.

County Court
July 16 - 20, 2012, Lincoln. Registration deadline: July 2, 2012

District Court
July 10 - 12, 2012, Lincoln. Registration Deadline: June 26, 2012
August 7 - 9, 2012, North Platte. Registration Deadline: July 24, 2012

JBE Staff
Carole McMahon-Boies, Director, 402-471-3072, carole.mcmahon-boies@nebraska.gov
Jerid Wedige, Probation Education Manager, 402-471-4486, jerid.wedige@nebraska.gov
Alicia Guerra, Administrative Assistant, 402-471-0275, alicia.guerra@nebraska.gov
Diona Hartwig, Administrative Assistant, 402-471-0005, diona@hartwig@nebraska.gov

Trial Court Services
Court Interpreter Project
Testing for Certification as a Nebraska Court Interpreter was held on May 4 and 5, 2012.   Interpreters in Spanish, French, and Arabic were tested.  Results will be received in early June. 

The certification exam will be held again October 19 and 20, 2012, in Lincoln. Applicants must have completed Court Interpreter Orientation and passed the written English comprehension exam in order to be eligible.

FTE Committee Formed
A committee has been formed to consider revisions to the FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) report which is used to measure the work done by county court staff.  The committee will be looking at ways to more accurately reflect the work of the courts.  Members include:  Judge Curt Maschman, Judge Anne Paine, Judge Doug Luebe, Judge Frank Skorupa; Clerk Magistrates Donna FInk, Vicki Kuhlman, Jolene Duffy, Terri Deans; Judicial Administrator Becky Bruckner; JUSTICE Business Analyst Sherri Dennis; and AOC staff members Judy Beutler, Debora Brownyard, and Sheryl Connolly.  The committee will be requesting input from the courts, judges, and staff.  If you have any suggestions, input, or questions, please email them to Sheryl Connolly.


Mediation Releases Annual Report and 20th Anniversary Compendium 
Click here to view the Office of Dispute Resolution 2010-2011 Annual Report and 20th Anniversary Compendium Report: 1991-2011 Nebraska Dispute Resolution Act.

Third Statewide Children’s Summit August 2012
The Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative and the Court Improvement Project will host the third statewide Children’s Summit August 27 - 29, 2012, in Kearney at the Younes Conference Center. The summit will begin with lunch on Monday and end early Wednesday afternoon. Accommodations and travel will be funded by the Court Improvement Project.

The Chief Justice has previously requested that court hearings not be scheduled during the summit so that all juvenile court judges and county court judges with juvenile court jurisdiction can attend.

Court Bench Book

• Child Support Calculator 2012 version (contact Janet Bancroft for password)

 

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Salary Increases
The Nebraska Supreme Court approved a staff salary increase of 2.5% effective July 1, 2012. This increase applies to Supreme Court non-judicial employees. For most employees, the increase will appear in paychecks at the end of July.

Click here to read the memo sent by Janice Walker, State Court Administrator, on May 10, 2010.

Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment begins at 8:00 a.m. CDT on Friday, May 25, 2012, and ends at 5:00 p.m. CDT on Friday, June 8, 2012.

Click here to read the informational email sent May 9, 2012, to all State employees from Administrative Services, State Employee Wellness & Benefits.

Nebraska Supreme Court HR Contacts:
All Court staff
            Eileen Janssen – Eileen.Janssen@Nebraska.Gov

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

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Governor Heineman Appoints Judge William Cassel to Supreme Court
Judge William B. Cassel of the Nebraska Court of Appeals, Third District, was appointed to the Nebraska Supreme Court on April 26, 2012, replacing Justice John Gerrard. Judge Cassel is eligible to begin his service on the Nebraska Supreme Court bench immediately.

Judge Cassel stated, “I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence expressed by this appointment, and I will endeavor to serve the citizens of Nebraska on Nebraska’s highest court to the best of my ability.”

Mostek Receives Golden Citizen Award
Janelle Mostek was honored at the Loup City Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet with the Golden Citizen Award Saturday, March 31. Janelle has been involved in the Chamber since 1992.  She is Clerk Magistrate in Sherman County; her nomination includes her community work through the Nebraska County Court Association. 

Click here to read the full article.

Judge Daniels Honored
Judge Vernon Daniels was honored by the Urban League of Nebraska (ULN) during their 23rd Annual African-American Leadership Awards Ceremony, Friday, March 30, 2012.  The Urban League recognizes leaders for their accomplishments and contributions to the City of Omaha.

Click here to read the full article from the Omaha Star.

Upcoming Judicial Retirements
Hon. J. Patrick Mullen, District Court, 4th Judicial District, May 31, 2012.
Hon. Gary G. Washburn, County Court, 8th Judicial District, May 31, 2012.

New Court Personnel
Joshua McDougall, Clerk Magistrate, Saline County Court, effective April 2, 2012.
Catherine Prestito, Bailiff, Douglas County Court, effective April 23, 2012.
Halley Miller, Bailiff, Douglas County Court, effective April 23, 2012.

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Judicial Branch Education Advisory Committee
Justice William Connolly has replaced Justice John Gerrard as the Chief Justice's designee on the Judicial Branch Education Advisory Committee.  Judge Mike Pirtle has replaced Judge John Irwin as Court of Appeals representative. Click here to view the full JBE Committee listing.

Lecture Series Sponsored by the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative
The Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative is sponsoring a free lecture series in various communities throughout Nebraska on issues relating to children in the State’s foster care system. The Supreme Court’s Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative consists of multidisciplinary teams dedicated to improving the outcomes of children in the Nebraska court system. The organization has, for the past several years, been a major part of the Supreme Court’s efforts to improve court processing in abuse and neglect cases.

• Lecture Series 1: Concurrent Planning for Permanency of Children in Foster Care  
• Lecture Series 2: Use of Medications for Mental Health Problems in Children

Click here to read the full press release on the Judicial Branch Web site.

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Judgment Interest Rate
Effective April 19, 2012, the judgment interest rate is 2.142%.

Rules for Comment
Public Comment Sought on Amendments to Guidelines for Guardians Ad Litem - Juvenile Court Proceedings
Proposed Amendments to the Guidelines for Guardians Ad Litem for Juveniles in Juvenile Court Proceedings
(comment period ends June 1, 2012)

The Nebraska Supreme Court Commission on Children in the Courts has submitted to the Supreme Court proposed amendments to the Supreme Court’s Guidelines for Guardians Ad Litem for Juveniles in Juvenile Court Proceedings at sections V(E)(1) and VII(D) and (E).

The Court invites interested persons to comment on these proposed amendments; please do so in writing to the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, P.O. Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509-8910, or via e-mail to lanet.asmussen@nebraska.gov no later than June 1, 2012.

Comment Sought on S-36-120001 "Petition for a Rule Change to Create a Voluntary State Bar of Nebraska..."
Notice of Comment Period for S-36-120001 "Petition for a Rule Change to Create a Voluntary State Bar of Nebraska..." (comment period ends June 1, 2012)

On February 29, 2012, Nebraska attorney/State Senator Scott Lautenbaugh filed a “Petition for a Rule Change to Create a Voluntary State Bar of Nebraska: To Abolish Neb. Ct. R. Chapter 3, Article 8, and to Make Whatever Other Rule Changes Are Necessary to Transition From a Mandatory to a Voluntary State Bar Association,” which petition has been docketed as case No. S-36-120001.  Direct link to petition: http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/amendments/S-36-120001.pdf

The Court invites interested persons to comment on these proposed amendments.  Anyone desiring to comment on the amendments to the guidelines should do so in writing to the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, P.O. Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509-8910, or via email to lanet.asmussen@nebraska.gov no later than June 1, 2012.

New Forms on the Web Site
Adoptions

• Record of Disclosure, CC 17:1

The County Court Forms Committee created the record of disclosure form to be used for a request by an agency pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-138.   It is filed in the adoption file only and will clarify why and when the clerk magistrate released information.

 

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2012 (holidays in red)
May 28	Memorial Day
July 4	Independence Day
September 3	Labor Day
October 8	Columbus Day
November 12	Veterans Day
November 22 - 23	Thanksgiving and Friday following
December 25	Christmas

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.
• 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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Legal Aid of Nebraska Launches Spanish Language Web Site
Spanish speaking Legal Aid staff, including Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Coordinator Liliana Shannon and Spanish speaking paralegal Jennifer McGill logged countless hours translating Legal Aid’s English Web page into Spanish. "It is so exciting for people to be able to get legal help in the language they are most fluent in. This means Spanish speakers will have more success in understanding their legal responsibilities and rights" said Shannon.

"Because of the increasing number of people in Nebraska that speak Spanish, it was vital for us to provide legal information in a forum they would understand" said Legal Aid's Executive Director Dave Pantos. "This new Web site, which is parallel to our English Web site, provides equal access to legal resources."

Click here to view Legal Aid’s Spanish Language Web site.  

UNO and CASA Partner to Make a Difference for Nebraska's Abused and Neglected Children
On April 26, 2012, judges with Juvenile jurisdiction received a request from the State Court Administrator to participate in a survey regarding the Nebraska CASA Association.  A detailed article regarding the project and related surveys is printed in the most recent Prairie Fire online news.




April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Nebraskans have become increasingly aware of child abuse and neglect as the state has attempted to transfer case management of foster children to private providers. This legislative session has been referred to by many as the session of the child as bills, hearings, reports and discussions have attempted to address the welfare of children who are victims of abuse and neglect.

Click here to read more.

Judiciary Committee Addresses Child Welfare through Support for CASA
A related article written by Senator Brad Ashford is found below the article on the UNO survey:

The Judiciary Committee of the Nebraska Legislature plays an important and specific role in the child welfare discussion. The Judiciary Committee is responsible for processing legislation involving, among other things, the courts, judicial procedures and juveniles. Under this general umbrella come the important discussions and decisions regarding abused and neglected children and their experience with and protection by the court. The committee considers and proposes legislation to help ensure that the judicial system is as responsive as possible for children who interact with or are directly affected by the courts.

Click here to read more.

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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