Douglas County Separate Juvenile Court Judge Amy Schuchman and County Court Judge John Rademacher of the Ninth Judicial District were announced as the 2026 Distinguished Judge Award Recipients by Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke.

On October 7, 2026, during his midday address to judges assembled from across the state, Chief Justice Funke recognized Judge Schuchman with the Service to the Community Award and Judge Rademacher with the Improvement of the Judicial System Award.

These awards acknowledge exceptional achievements and projects undertaken by judges beyond their regular judicial duties. The awards are designed to recognize any type of project or activity that has a positive impact on the administration of justice, is effective in addressing public needs and enhancing public trust and confidence in the justice system and will benefit present and future users of the Nebraska court system.

The title of Distinguished Judge is the most prestigious honor conferred by the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Service to the Community: Judge Amy Schuchman

Judge Schuchman has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the youth and families served by Nebraska’s Separate Juvenile Court. Known for her professionalism, compassion, and expertise, she creates a courtroom environment where individuals feel safe to share their concerns, ensuring their voices meaningfully inform decisions. Her trauma-informed approach and steadfast advocacy for high-risk youth have contributed to meaningful system-level improvements across juvenile justice.

Recognizing the complex challenges many families face, Judge Schuchman established Thrive Court, a specialty court supporting children and parents with mental health needs. In partnership with Community Alliance, she expanded mental-health education for legal and support professionals, strengthening outcomes through collaboration between behavioral health and the legal system.

Improvement of the Judicial System: Judge John Rademacher

Judge Rademacher, lead judge for the Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative, Team 9.2, has demonstrated outstanding leadership and a deep commitment to improving outcomes for youth and families across Nebraska. He revitalized the multi‑disciplinary group, bringing renewed energy, focus, and collaboration to its work. Under his leadership, innovative services have been developed to better support youth involved in the justice system and families navigating child welfare.

Judge Rademacher’s commitment to strengthening the judiciary extends beyond the courtroom. His service includes active participation in the County Court Judges Association Education Committee and the Executive Committee, where he has helped provide meaningful professional development opportunities for judges statewide. His efforts include formalizing a mentoring and shadowing program for new judges and helping implement a county court judge cohort model of small groups of judges with varied experience and backgrounds who work together to build trusted professional and personal support networks.

Photos: 
(Top) Judge John Rademacher, Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke, Judge Amy Schuchman. 
(Right) Chief Justice Funke addresses Nebraska judges.