The Office of Public Guardian has seen firsthand the growing need for guardianship services in Nebraska communities. We believe that it is vital for our vision, mission, and policies to reflect changing needs and circumstances. With this goal in mind, the OPG partnered recently with two consultants...

Edward D. Steenburg, former judge of the 11th Judicial District County Court in Nebraska, died December 7, 2025. He took the bench in 2004 and retired in February 2025. During his time on the bench, Judge Steenburg served as President of the Nebraska County Judges Association, volunteered with high...

In September 2025, the Office of Dispute Resolution’s (ODR) concluded the Juvenile Restorative Justice & Family Intervention Initiative (JRJFII), a federal grant project under the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. A key component of the grant initiative was to provide youth...

On December 8, 2025, two participants graduated from the Southeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court at the Saline County Courthouse in Wilber. Judge David Bargen presided over the ceremony. A former Drug Court graduate, now a college student pursuing a degree in drug and alcohol counseling, served as the...

On December 4, 2025, the Midwest Nebraska Problem-Solving Court Adult Drug Court held a graduation ceremony at the Dawson County District Court in Lexington, with Judge Michael Piccolo presiding. The graduates brought their families with them to celebrate this great achievement. Both graduates...

Judges from across Nebraska played a starring role in this year’s Judge Lyle Strom High School Mock Trial competition, beginning with the top two teams in the state being coached by members of the judiciary. Duchesne Academy, the 2025 state champion, was coached by sitting Judge Stefanie Martinez...

Research has shown that ongoing, post-divorce interparental conflict is linked to children experiencing higher emotional distress (e.g., anxiety, depression) and more behavior problems (e.g., aggression, rule-breaking). Ongoing conflict between parents may directly harm children when they get caught...

The Sarpy County Juvenile Drug Court held a graduation ceremony at the Sarpy County Courthouse in Papillion, on November 25, 2025, with Judge Jonathan Crosby presiding. Also in attendance were Andrew Erickson of the Sarpy County Attorney’s Office and Todd West of the Sarpy County Public Defender’s...

The Nebraska Supreme Court approved adjustments to the fee structure for several online services—marking the first rate change in more than a decade. These updates, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, are driven by the need to modernize and enhance the critical technologies that support...

Nebraska Supreme Court Rule (Effective January 1, 2026) Beginning January 1, 2026, Nebraska Supreme Court rules require all Nebraska trial courts to use a revised and streamlined Juror Qualification Form. The new form was redesigned after receiving input from jury commissioners and court staff from...