JUDICIAL RESOURCES
COMMISSION AGENDA
The Judicial Resources Commission will hold its annual
meeting pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-1205 to determine
whether (1) a new judgeship is appropriate in any judicial district
or a reduction in judgeships is appropriate in any judicial district,
or (2) the judicial district boundaries or the number of judicial
districts should be changed for the district or county courts.
The Commission shall also examine current caseload statistics
and make any appropriate recommendations for the more balanced
use of existing judicial resources.
Due to the retirement of the Honorable George A. Thompson, effective
December 31, 2006, the Commission will also determine, pursuant
to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-1204, based on the judicial workload
statistics, whether a judicial vacancy exists in the office of
district judge of the 2nd Judicial District.
Due to the retirement of the Honorable Jane H. Prochaska,
effective December 31, 2006, the Commission will also determine,
pursuant
to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-1204, based on the judicial workload
statistics, whether a judicial vacancy exists in the office of
county judge of the 4th Judicial District. The
Commission will also discuss the National Center for State Courts
judicial workload assessment study.
The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, December 19, 2006, at 10:00
a.m., central time. The hearing will be held via video conferencing
from the State Capitol Building, Room 1525, Lincoln, Nebraska,
and will include participation from the Panhandle Learning Center,
4502 Ave. I, High Plains Room, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, from the
State Office Building, Room 207, Second Floor, 1313 Farnam Street,
Omaha, Nebraska, and from the Hastings Public Library, Second
Floor, 517 West 4th Street, Hastings, Nebraska.
Following the hearing, the commission will make a recommendation
to the Legislature of its determination.
Commission members are:
Supreme Court Justice Michael McCormack, Chairperson
Alan L. Brodbeck, O'Neill Robert P. Chaloupka, Scottsbluff
Robert B. O'Neal, Papillion Riko E. Bishop, Lincoln
Thomas F. Hoarty, Omaha Ronald Furse, Aurora
Jolanda J. Kuzma, Lincoln Nicole R. Neesen, Omaha
Jane Morgan, Gordon Mark M. Sipple, Columbus
Gerald E. Moran, Omaha Robert J. Parker, Hastings
Margie A. Smith, Bellevue Patricia McQuillan, Greeley
Sharlon Rodgers, Omaha D. Paul Hartnett, Bellevue
Any member of the public is entitled to attend the Nebraska
Judicial Resources Commission hearing in Room 1525 of the State
Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska, and present, either orally or in
writing, any pertinent information concerning the existence of
a judicial vacancy. If anyone wishes to present written material
at the hearing, a copy of such material should be furnished to
the Chairperson at least one week prior to the hearing.
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 at 711.
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2007 ABA TECH
SHOW
Join the ABA Law Practice Management Section as it presents
ABA TECHSHOW® 2007 from March 22-24, 2007 at the Sheraton
Chicago Hotel & Towers in the magnificent city of Chicago!
Take advantage of the world's premier legal technology conference
and expo at a substantial discount by registering to attend as
a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association. Visit the conference
website for more information.
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ABA COMMISSION RELEASES FINAL PROPOSALS TO REVISE MODEL JUDICIAL
CODE
The ABA Joint Commission
to Evaluate the Model Code of Judicial Conduct has released
its final proposal to revise the ABA Model Code of Judicial
Conduct, addressing such issues as the increasing pressure
on judges and judicial candidates to state positions on political
issues and limits on judges accepting gifts, including free
attendance at seminars......(more)
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GUARDIAN AD LITEM TRAINING
Supreme Court sponsored GAL training is anticipated to be provided
in February and March in all judicial districts. Specific information
regarding scheduling and registration will be provided on the
Supreme Court Web site and to all judges with juvenile jurisdiction
as soon as it is available.
The Supreme Court’s
new rule states that beginning April 1, 2007, an attorney appointed
by the courts as a guardian ad litem
for a juvenile in a proceeding brought under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-247(3)(a)
of the Nebraska Juvenile Code shall have completed six (6) hours
of specialized training provided by the Administrative Office
of the Court. Thereafter, in order to maintain eligibility to
be appointed and to serve as a guardian ad litem, an attorney
shall complete three (3) hours of specialized training per year
as provided by the Administrative Office of the Court. Courts
shall appoint attorneys trained under this rule in all § 43-247(3)(a)
cases when available; provided, however, that if the judge determines
that an attorney with the training required herein is unavailable
within the county, he or she may appoint an attorney without
such training.
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