CHARITABLE FUNDS INC.,
CFI's Barristers' Ball
The First Annual Barristers’ Ball
"Starry Starry Night " is scheduled for April
30, 2005 at the Hilton Omaha Downtown. The Barristers' Ball
is a black-tie optional celebration in the cause of improving
access to justice in Nebraska. Over 400 leaders from the
fields of law, business, government, and community development
from across the state will be attending. The ball includes
a reception, gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions and
a dance. Through corporate sponsorship and generous patrons,
the ball is expected to raise substantial dollars that fund
the NSBA's Pro Bono legal services program, the Volunteer
Lawyers Project. To be a law firm sponsor or to buy a table,
click here. To buy tickets online, go to http://www.nebar.com/store/category.asp?category=81
THANK
YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF THE BARRISTERS BALL!!
Mark your calendars!! The second annual Race Judicata is
scheduled for April 30, 2005 at Chalco Hills
THANK
YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF THE SECOND ANNUAL RACE JUDICATA!!
Don't miss out on the second annual
Greater Nebraska Golf Scramble on June 17, 2005 at Wild
Horse Golf Course in Gothenburg!
THANK
YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF THE SECOND ANNUAL GREATER NEBRASKA
GOLF TOURNAMENT!!
The ninth annual NSBA golf tournament will be August 26,
2005 at the Platteview Country Club!
Back to Top
PETITION TO ADOPT RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT GOVERNING
ATTORNEYS
NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD
On February 17, 2004, the Nebraska State
Bar Association filed a “petition to Adopt Rules of Professional
Conduct Governing Attorneys,” case No. S-36-040001, in which
the NSBA requested that the Nebraska Supreme Court adopt the
proposed Nebraska Rules of Professional Conduct and repeal
Nebraska’s Code of Professional Responsibility. On April 2,
2004, the proposed rules were published for comment by the
Supreme Court for a period which ran until July 16, 2004.
Thereafter, the Court considered the proposed rules as submitted
by the NSBA and all comments received.
The Supreme Court has completed its review
and has, with the exceptions noted below, made no revisions
to the rules as they were proposed by the NSBA Ethics Committee
in its petition. Any revisions made by the Court to the Committee’s
proposed rules are indicated in the revised proposed rules
by highlighting, underscoring, or strikeouts. Besides minor
editing changes made by the Court, the following is a list
of those rules in which the most significant revisions were
made by the Court:
Rule 1.1(b); Rule 1.5(b); Rule 1.6(b)(1); Rule 1.6(c); Rule
1.6 at
Comment [6];
Rule 1.9 (d), (e) and (f); Rule 1.15 (a); Rule 1.17(b) and
Comment
[8];
Rule 3.3(a)(3) and Comments [10] and [11]; and Rule 6.1 at
Comment
[5].
The Nebraska Supreme Court invites interested
persons to comment on the revised proposed Nebraska Rules
of Professional Conduct. Anyone desiring to comment
on the revised proposed rules 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 e-mail to lasmussen@nsc.state.ne.us,
no later than March 14, 2005.
The full text of the revised proposed
Nebraska Rules of Professional Conduct is available (in PDF
format) on the Nebraska Judicial Branch web site (click
here), or a hard copy of the revised proposed rules may
be obtained from the NSBA by sending a request by mail to
the Nebraska State Bar Association, Jane Schoenike, P.O. Box
81809, Lincoln, NE 68501-1809, or via e-mail to jschoenike@nebar.com.
Back to Top
ADD NSBA EVENTS DIRECTLY TO YOUR OUTLOOK CALENDAR
Simply click on the meeting you wish to download from the
NSBA
calendar and when prompted click the "Open"
button. An Outlook appointment screen should then appear.
Click the "Save & Close" button to save to your
calendar.
Back to Top
HOUSE MEETINGS
CLICK
HERE FOR THE NSBA CALENDAR
Future meetings of the House of Delegates will be held on
Friday, April 22, 2005 at University of Nebraska-Kearney and
on Thursday, November 10, 2005 at the Cornhusker Hotel in
Lincoln, during the 2005 Annual Meeting.
Back to Top
YOUNG LAWYERS BEST PRACTICES
SEMINAR SERIES
You are invited by the Nebraska State
Bar Association's Mentoring Committee and Young Lawyers Section to
attend, free of charge, the Best Practices seminar series. The
eight session series will focus on a wide range of substantive
topics and will offer practical training for new lawyers and
identify available resources to aid in your practice. The sessions
will be led by experienced Nebraska attorneys who will offer
insight, from a practical prospective, on how to successfully
practice law. Additionally, at the conclusion of each seminar, the
Nebraska State Bar Association will sponsor a free Reception for
the participants to get to know each other and other members of
the Nebraska Bar. Here is your opportunity to obtain high quality
training at no cost and meet many fellow Bar Members.
The second session of 2005 is scheduled for February 23,
2005 at the UNL law school. Kent Frobish form the counsel
of discipline's office will be the speaker. A reception will
follow. Click here for the registration form.
Back to Top
END OF LEGISLATION SESSION SUMMARY
Click
here to view the 2004 end of legislation summary....
Back to Top
MINORITY AND JUSTICE IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE RELEASES 2005
PROGRESS REPORT
The Nebraska Supreme Court and the Nebraska State Bar Association,
with the assistance of the Public Policy Center, established
the Minority and Justice Task Force in 2001 to identify actual
or perceived racial/ethnic bias and discrimination in the
Nebraska justice system and make recommendations to the Supreme
Court on how to address any identified inequities. The major
recommendation of the Final Report was to establish a standing
committee to implement the Task Force's recommendations. The
Minority and Justice Implementation Committee, consisting
of a racially and ethnically diverse group of judges, lawyers,
and community leaders has been formed and is currently working
on a number of initiatives. In an effort to share their progress
and future agenda the Minority and Justice Implementation
Committee is proud to release its 2005 Progress Report. The
Report is available on-line at:
http://www.nebar.com/pdfs/misc_pdfs/MJTF-Progress_Report_05.pdf
or
http://ppc.nebraska.edu/program_areas/documents/mjtf/MJTF-2005Progress_Report.pdf
Back to Top
APPLICATION DEADLINE SET FOR COUNTY COURT JUDGE VACANCY, 2ND
JUDICIAL DISTRICT
According to Supreme Court Justice William M. Connolly,
the Judicial Nominating Commission for County Judge in the
2nd Judicial District (consisting of Cass, Sarpy and Otoe
Counties) will hold a public hearing in District Courtroom
# 3 at the Sarpy County Courthouse located at 1210 Golden
Gate Drive in Papillion, Nebraska, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
on Monday, April 11, 2005. The principal place of office for
the judicial vacancy is Papillion. At the hearing, the Commission
will receive information on the qualifications of candidates
to fill the vacancy in the office of County Judge due to the
retirement of Judge Larry F. Fugit, effective April 1, 2005.
The public is welcome to attend the hearing and present information
concerning candidates for the judicial opening. Individuals
interested in applying for the position must do so on an approved
form available through the Chairperson of the Commission or
the Office of the State Court Administrator, P.O. Box 98910,
Lincoln, NE 68509. The application form may also be printed
from the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at www.nebraskacourt.com/manual/application.htm.
Completed applications must be returned no later than 5:00
p.m. Monday, March 21, 2005, to the Chairperson, Justice Connolly,
at the above-stated address or delivered to the office of
the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Room 2413, State Capitol.
A listing of the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission
can be found on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at www.nebraskacourt.com/jnc/rostercc&dc2.htm.
For special accommodations relating to the Americans with
Disabilities Act, please call (402) 471-3730. For persons
with hearing impairments, please call the Nebraska Relay System,
7-1-1. AA/EOE.
Back to Top
APPLICATION DEADLINE SET FOR COUNTY COURT JUDGE VACANCY, 5TH
JUDICIAL DISTRICT
February 18, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2005, Application Deadline Set for County Court
Judge Vacancy,
5th Judicial District
LINCOLN -- According to Supreme Court Justice John F. Wright,
the Judicial Nominating Commission for County Judge in the
5th Judicial District (consisting of Boone, Butler, Colfax,
Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward,
and York Counties) will hold a public hearing in the District
Court Courtroom at the Seward County Courthouse
in Seward, Nebraska, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday,
April 13, 2005. The principal place of office for the judicial
vacancy will be either Hamilton or Merrick County. At the
hearing, the Commission will receive information on the qualifications
of candidates to fill the vacancy in the office of County
Judge due to the retirement of Judge Gary F. Hatfield, effective
March 31, 2005.
The public is welcome to attend the hearing and present information
concerning candidates for the judicial opening. Individuals
interested in applying for the position must do so on an approved
form available through the Chairperson of the Commission or
the Office of the State Court Administrator, P.O. Box 98910,
Lincoln, NE 68509. The application form may also be printed
from the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at www.nebraskacourt.com/manual/application.htm.
Completed applications must be returned no later than 5:00
p.m., Wednesday, March 23, 2005, to the Chairperson, Justice
Wright, at the above-stated address or delivered to the office
of the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Room 2413, State Capitol.
A listing of the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission
can be found on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at www.nebraskacourt.com/jnc/rostercc&dc5.htm.
For special accommodations relating to the Americans with
Disabilities Act, please call (402) 471-3730. For persons
with hearing impairments, please call the Nebraska Relay System,
7-1-1. AA/EOE.
Back to Top
VIDEOCONFERENCE: PROSECUTING CRIMINAL & CIVIL ACTIONS
AGAINST PERPETRATORS OF ABUSE & NEGLECT AGAINST VULNERABLE
ADULTS
On Monday March 14, 2005 from 9AM to 12 noon CST there
will be an interactive videoconference linking 13 sites across
the state: Prosecuting Criminal and Civil Actions Against
Perpetrators of Abuse and Neglect Against Vulnerable Adults
Featured Speaker: Doug Warner JD, Scottsbluff Deputy County
Attorney
Panel to include: Don Kleine JD, NE Attorney General’s Office;
Mike Rumbaugh JD, NE Attorney General’s Office; Jeffery Kirkpatrick
JD of McHenry, Haszard law firm, Lincoln; others.
Target audience: County Attorneys, Civil Trial Attorneys,
Law Enforcement, Adult Protective Services workers, Developmental
Disabilities Service Coordinator Supervisors, others.
The goals are a) to identify ways to enhance successful prosecution
of criminal and civil cases against perpetrators where victims
have developmental disabilities or severe physical or cognitive
impairments, 2) to build awareness of cases such as State
v. Fields, 268 Neb. 850 (2004) and the recent civil judgment
in Gage County, and 3) to build and reinforce regional and
statewide networks of interested professionals across the
state – both attorney to attorney as well as across disciplines.
A follow-up “bridge-line” telephone conference call at the
end of March will allow interested parties to continue the
process.
Presented free of charge by the ARC of Nebraska. Costs underwritten
through a grant from the Developmental Disabilities Council
and Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc.
For more information: http://www.arc-nebraska.org/SPANN.htm
Pre-registration is appreciated to anticipate training materials
and refreshment needs at each site, however walk-ins welcomed.
To pre-register, please contact: A. Jocelyn Ritchie JD PhD
at arcneb@inebraska.com
or call the ARC of Nebraska at 402-475-4407.
Back to Top
ABA TECHNOLOGY SHOW
Attend the ABA TECHSHOW March 31 – April 2, 2005 at the
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, and get up-to-speed on
the latest and greatest in legal technology! ABA TECHSHOW
is the world’s premier legal technology conference and expo.
Produced by the ABA Law Practice Management Section (www.lawpractice.org),
ABA TECHSHOW offers more than 50 education sessions in twelve
exciting tracks and a two-day expo featuring the latest cutting-edge
technology. To register, visit http://www.abanet.org/techshow/register.
Complete information including sessions, speakers, and vendors
can be found at www.techshow.com.
Big Savings! Sign up by February 18, 2004 and receive a $100
discount off the $795 registration fee. Sign up through the
Nebraska State Bar Association using the following program
promoter code PP07and receive an additional $100!
Back to Top
LEGAL DIVERSITY SUMMIT
Nebraska’s first Legal Diversity Summit has been scheduled
for April 11, 2005 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Embassy Suites
(555 S. 10th Street) in Omaha. This important event will include:
Keynote Speaker: Dennis Archer, the first African American
President of the American Bar Association, former Michigan
Supreme Court Justice, former mayor of Detroit, and named
one of the United States’ Most Powerful Attorneys by the National
Law Journal.
Sessions on how to improve your efforts to recruit and retain
attorneys of color.
Networking Reception with minority law students from Nebraska,
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota.
Introduction of Nebraska’s new Legal Diversity Website, a
new venue for Nebraska’s legal employers to specifically recruit
attorneys of color.
This conference is a joint effort of the Nebraska State Bar
Association, the Midlands Bar Association, the Nebraska Hispanic
Bar Association, the Nebraska Supreme Court, the Minority
and Justice Implementation Committee, Creighton University
School of Law and the University of Nebraska College of Law.
The goal of this event is to bring legal employers together
to focus on increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of
our profession. We hope that you will come away from this
conference with some new ways of understanding the value of
a diverse workforce, strategies for recruiting and retaining
attorneys of color, and a renewed commitment to work together
toward a more diverse legal community in Nebraska. For more
information or to register for the event, contact Liz Neeley,
PhD at the Nebraska State Bar Association at (402) 475-7091
or lneeley@nebar.com.
Back to Top
