March 6: Judges John Samson and John Colborn

Nebraska District Court Judges John Samson of Blair and John Colborn of Lincoln have been invited to sit with the Nebraska Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 6th for today’s argument session.

Ninth grade students at Aurora High School were studying “To Kill a Mockingbird” when their English teacher, Natalie Staroska, contacted the Hamilton County District Court for a potential mock trial demonstration. District Court Judge Rachel Daugherty received the inquiry and knew that the Aurora court had the Bill of Exceptions and the original court documents from a relevant case heard in the courthouse in 1920: State v. Robert Meyer.

March 8, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. University of Nebraska College of Law & April 5, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. Creighton University School of Law

For over 30 years the justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court have traveled to each of Nebraska’s law schools for the purpose of making the Court’s business accessible to students on their campuses. Annual visits are made each spring to the University of Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln and Creighton University School of Law in Omaha.

A swearing-in ceremony for Kerry Sides as Clerk Magistrate of Lincoln County Court was held February 16, 2018, in the Lincoln County Courthouse in North Platte, Nebraska. Judges Kent Turnbull and Michael Piccolo presided over the ceremony.

Sides has previous experience with the courts having worked at the Lincoln County Court from 2007 to 2013. During her time in Lincoln County Court, she acted as Judge Turnbull's bailiff and served as the Assistant Clerk under former Clerk Magistrate Randy McCoy.

Nebraska’s Youth Impact team from the Omaha area will be featured in a national education session through the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University. The success of the team, led by Douglas County Juvenile Judge Doug Johnson, has garnered the attention of national organizers who are using the Douglas County group as national role models for successful programming.

A swearing-in ceremony for Linda Mitchell as Clerk Magistrate of Antelope County Court was held January 30, 2018, in the Antelope County Courthouse in Neligh, Nebraska. Judge Donna Taylor presided over the ceremony.

On the heels of the Nebraska Reentry Court Best Practice Standards, which were approved by the Nebraska Supreme Court this past summer, two Reentry Courts have been approved. The Nebraska Supreme Court approved the request from Judge Teresa Luther and Judge Mark Young to establish Nebraska’s first Reentry Court in the Ninth Judicial District in August 2017. January 3, 2018, marked the approval by the Nebraska Supreme Court for Judge Stefanie Martinez’s request to establish a Reentry Court in the Second Judicial District.

Marie Wiechman, State Librarian, will retire January 31, 2018, after over 28 years of service with the State Library.

She joined the Judicial Branch on November 1, 1989, following 10 years with the University of Nebraska Law Library as Circulation Supervisor. Before her work at the Law College she worked three years at the Love Library on UNL’s main campus.

A swearing-in ceremony for Lisa Johnson as Clerk Magistrate of Howard County Court was held January 18, 2018, in the Howard County Court in St. Paul, Nebraska. Judges Tami Schendt and Kale Burdick and presided over the ceremony.

Johnson has worked in Howard County Court since 2011, and prior to that worked in Hall County Court beginning in 2002.  She has a thorough knowledge of court practices and understanding of the needs of Howard County. Johnson has a wealth of experience working with litigants, attorneys and local government officials.

Chief Justice Mike Heavican gave his 2018 State of the Judiciary speech to the Nebraska Legislature on January 18, 2018. During his presentation he highlighted the Judicial Branch’s newest type of Problem-Solving Court: the Veterans Treatment Court.

Members of Nebraska’s inaugural Douglas and Lancaster County Veterans Treatment Courts were among those watching from the Unicameral balcony. The group included judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, veteran mentors, and other supporters of the two courts.