WOODS CHARITABLE
FUND GRANT TO CFI
The Minority Justice
Committee in conjunction with the Interpreter Advisory Committee
received a grant for $25,000 from Woods Charitable
Fund to have all appropriate civil and pro se (self-represented litigants) court forms translated into a bilingual format for
the most commonly requested languages: Spanish, Vietnamese and
Arabic. The objective of this initiative is to improve the justice
system’s capacity to serve limited- and non-English speakers
in civil and /pro se/ matters.
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BASIC
GUARDIAN AD LITEM TRAINING SCHEDULED
Two sessions of basic
mandatory GAL training have been scheduled for attorneys wishing
to be appointed as guardians ad litem representing children in
abuse/neglect cases. Graduating law students and attorneys are
invited to attend these sessions. Sessions will be held at Creighton
Law School on Saturday, February 23 and at the University of
Nebraska College of Law on Saturday March 8. Further information
and registration for the training can be accessed on-line at
www.throughtheeyes.org by following the "2008 Guardian ad
Litem Training" link in the left column. An on-line version
of the basic training is under development. For information about
the on-line training and about advanced training opportunities
for guardians ad litem, check back with the Through the Eyes
website.
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NEW PRESIDING JUDGES
Judge McQuade has been named County
Court Presiding Judge of the 4th Judicial District (Douglas County)
beginning
January 15, 2008. The Nebraska Supreme Court approved the nomination
of Judge McQuade, whose name was submitted by his fellow county
court judges for the leadership position.
Judge McQuade has
served on the county court bench in Omaha since February 1987
and previously served as presiding judge in 1990-91, 1998,
1999, 2001, 2004 and 2005. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Nebraska State
Bar Association and the Omaha Bar Association.
As presiding judge,
Judge McQuade has primary responsibility for overseeing the
delivery of county court services within his
judicial district. He will also serve as the liaison to other
agencies of local and state government for the Douglas County
Court and to the Nebraska State Bar Association and the press.
Judge Ide has been named County Court Presiding Judge
of the 10th Judicial District (Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin,
Harlan, Kearney,
Nuckolls, Phelps, and Webster Counties) beginning January 15,
2008. The Nebraska Supreme Court approved the nomination of Judge Ide,
whose name was submitted by his fellow county court judges for
the leadership position.
Judge Ide was appointed to serve on the county court bench in
March 2000 by former governor Mike Johanns.
As presiding judge, Judge Ide has primary responsibility for
overseeing the delivery of county court services within his judicial
district. He will also serve as the liaison to other agencies
of local and state government for the courts of the district
and to the Nebraska State Bar Association and the press.
Judge Strong has been named County Court Presiding Judge
of the 3rd Judicial District (Lancaster County)
beginning January 1, 2008. The
Nebraska Supreme Court approved the nomination of Judge Strong,
whose name was submitted by her fellow county court judges for
the leadership position.
Judge Strong was
appointed to the county court bench in Lincoln on June 7,
2006 and sworn in on July 13, 2006. She came to the county court
bench from the Public Protection Bureau of the Nebraska Attorney
General's Office, where her duties included prosecuting health
care professionals for violating the Uniform Licensing Law, including
substandard care, unprofessional conduct and unauthorized practice
of law.
Before joining the Attorney General's Office, Strong had spent
most of her legal career in private practice, focusing on areas
of employment law, personal injury, product liability, breach
of contract and malpractice, both in Lincoln and in Denver, Colorado.
While in Denver she served as a judicial law clerk for U.S. District
Court Judge Richard Matsch.
As presiding judge, Judge Strong has primary responsibility for
overseeing the delivery of county court services within his judicial
district. He will also serve as the liaison to other agencies
of local and state government for the courts of the district
and to the Nebraska State Bar Association and the press.
Judge Rager has been named County Court Presiding Judge of the 6th Judicial
District (Burt, Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Thurston, and
Washington Counties) beginning January 15, 2008. The Nebraska
Supreme Court approved the nomination of Judge Rager, whose name was
submitted by his fellow county court judges for the leadership
position.
Judge Rager was appointed to the county court bench July 9,
2001 by former governor Mike Johanns. Prior to his appointment
he was a private practice attorney in Omaha and South Sioux City,
Nebraska.
As presiding judge, Judge Rager has primary responsibility for
overseeing the delivery of county court services within their
judicial district. He will also serve as the liaison to other
agencies of local and state government for the courts of the
district and to the Nebraska State Bar Association and the press.
Judge Florom has
been named County Court Presiding Judge of the 11th Judicial
District (Arthur, Chase, Dawson, Dundy,
Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln,
Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Red Willow, and Thomas
Counties) beginning January 15, 2008. The Nebraska Supreme Court approved the nomination of Judge Florom, whose
name was submitted by his fellow county court judges for the
leadership position.
Judge Florom was appointed
to the county court bench in North Platte in 1991 by former governor Ben Nelson.
As presiding judge, Judge Florom has primary responsibility
for overseeing the delivery of county court services within his
judicial district. He will also serve as the liaison to other
agencies of local and state government for the courts of the
district and to the Nebraska State Bar Association and the press.
Presiding judges also bear the responsibility for overseeing
personnel matters for the district and provide county courts
in the area with direction in matters of local district policy.
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ABA TECHSHOW
The Nebraska State Bar Association is a program promoter
for the 2008 ABA Techshow. Please use the code PP804 when registering
to receive your $100 discount. For additional information
go to http://www.techshow.com
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CALL TO ACTION INITIATIVE
The Nebraska State Bar Association coordinated a Call
to Action Initiative on Friday February 1, creating a network
of firms and corporations that have agreed to work collaboratively
and innovatively to promote diversity in the legal profession.
A signing ceremony recognizing the 57 signatories was held at
the Cornhusker Hotel. Click
here for additional information.
Click
here to hear NSBA President Wayne Mark's radio interview
on NET radio regarding the initiative.
SEVEN MORE COUNTIES OFFER ON-LINE PAYMENT FOR TRAFFIC CITATIONS
Seven More Counties Offer On-line Payment for Traffic Citations
Through the Nebraska Judicial Branch’s New ePayment System
County Courts in Cherry, Cheyenne, Lincoln, Phelps, Antelope,
Madison, and Sarpy Counties added themselves to the list of
courts offering motorists the option to pay traffic tickets
on-line. As of Monday, January 14, drivers who receive payable
traffic citations (tickets with a set fine which can be paid
without a court appearance) will be able to pay their traffic
fines on the Internet through the Nebraska Judicial Branch's
new on-line payment system.
The new ePayment system offers individuals a secured on-line
location to pay their traffic citations. Motorists can log
onto the Judicial Branch Web site, www.supremecourt.ne.gov,
and click on the “ePayments” button.
Users of ePayment can pay their citations using Visa, MasterCard
or Debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logos. Users are
assessed a transaction fee by the vendor.
The first courts to offer ePayments beginning in December
2007 are in the following counties: Boyd, Cass, Colfax, Cuming,
Dawson, Hamilton, Holt, Keith, Knox, Lancaster, Merrick, Platte,
Saunders, Seward, Stanton, Thayer, Thurston, and Washington.
“The number of drivers who have chosen to use the system thus
far is remarkable,” said Chief Justice Mike Heavican. “After
just one month the ePayment system has been a success in every
county. Clearly the on-line payment option is very useful to
motorists.”
According to State Court Administrator Janice K. Walker, the
judicial branch hopes to provide on-line payments for all remaining
courts in 2008.
Typical traffic citations that can be paid on-line include:
speeding tickets, seat belt violations, driving without current
tags, failure to stop at stop sign, and similar offenses of
a less serious nature.
However, more serious
violations still require court appearances, including: driving on a suspended license, driving while under
the influence of alcohol, driving an uninsured vehicle, or
driving while impaired by controlled dangerous substances.
Motorists may not pay their traffic citation on-line if the
citation indicates that they must appear in court.
City and municipal parking citations must be paid to the local
municipalities, although many cities have their own on-line
ePayment programs.
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STATE OF THE JUDICIARY OFFERS INSIGHTS INTO JUDICIAL BRANCH
In his first State of the Judiciary message Chief Justice Mike
Heavican showcased recent projects and programs of the judicial
branch to the Nebraska Unicameral and viewers tuning into the
address via educational television.
Remarking that the judiciary, the Third Branch of government,
is often the least understood of the branches, he offered a glimpse
into the administration of the courts through a review of statewide
improvement efforts.
Heavican also distributed a preliminary court caseload report
to legislators remarking, “The sheer number of cases our court
system handles each year is astonishing considering the judicial
branch is allocated just two percent of the state’s entire
budget. In fact, the judicial branch essentially pays for itself,
as fees and fines collected by courts are distributed to local
school systems, Nebraska Legal Services, the Law Enforcement
Improvement Fund, the state’s general fund, and other state
and local services.”
Focusing on recent court initiatives, the Chief Justice recapped
the multitude of recent programming efforts focusing on abused
and neglected children who enter the court system. He cited
work by the Nebraska Supreme Court Commission on Children regarding
expedited case processing by the Nebraska Court of Appeals
and newly adopted guidelines for the work of Guardians ad Litem.
He also discussed the new “Eyes of the Child Initiative” which
served as a springboard to recognize the state’s juvenile court
judges, child welfare workers, Foster Care Review Board members,
defense attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, and community members
who have worked throughout the year to create substantial improvements
in the processing of abuse/neglect cases across the state.
According to Heavican, the “Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative”
has established 25 judge-led, community-based court teams around
the state with the goal of developing the best way to handle
abuse and neglect cases – including cases involving the termination
of parental rights. He noted that, “All of the teams are working
hard to place abused and neglected children in permanent, safe,
and stable homes as quickly as possible.” Citing Dodge County
as an example of the success of the Initiative, Heavican noted
that the number of children in foster care has dropped by 50
percent since the advent of the program.
Heavican also discussed circumstances which strain Nebraska’s
“already thin” judicial resources such as the unique requirements
of drug-addicted offenders, concerns with non-English speaking
litigants and the time-consuming needs of self-represented
litigants; all of which are on the rise. As a result of these
unique court clients, Heavican noted that both the judicial
and legislative branches will continue to grapple with the
efficient allocation of court resources.
In concluding his remarks, the Chief Justice noted that Nebraska
has exceptional officers and, consequentially, one of the finest
systems in the country. He expressed his appreciation for the
legislatures’ support of past court endeavors and asked for
their continued support of Nebraska’s judicial branch.
On-line text of the State of the Judiciary:
http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/supreme-court/pdf/state-of-judiciary-08.pdf
Caseload Handouts to the Legislature:
http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/supreme-court/pdf/state-of-judiciary-08-caseload-stats.pdf
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WYOMING ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNCIL JOB VACANCY
Agency Director: Environmental Quality Council Director,
Class Code DO00-13321. Environmental Quality Council, Cheyenne,
WY. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required with a
preference given to an advanced degree in field related to job
requirements. Attorney in good standing preferred. Five years
of experience in management of government agency or private organization
and experience in working with complex, technical or scientific
issues.
Position is at-will and serves at the pleasure of the
EQC and under the Environmental Quality Act. W.S. 35-11-111 and
112. Responsible for the successful leadership and management
of the EQC under the general direction of the Council. Must be
proficient in preparing cases for hearings, analyzing complex
legal and technical issues, and in anticipating problems and
issues that will affect the work of the Council members. Strong
writing and communication skills, strategic planning and guidance,
and organizational development.
The EQC is looking for an innovator,
a leader, and a strategic problem-solver with the ability to
understand and navigate through the responsibilities as directed
by statute. Hiring range is $6,716.00-$9,211.00 per mo. For more
information or to apply online, go to http://statejobs.stte.wy.us/JobSearchDetail.aspx?ID=13321 or submit a State of Wyoming Employment application to the Human
Resources Division, Emerson Building, 2001 Capitol Ave., Cheyenne,
WY 82002-0060, (307)777-7188, (Fax #1-307-777-6562) along with
transcripts of any relevant course work.
Position is open until
filled. EEO/ADA Employer
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GUIDELINE FOR STATEWIDE MONITORING OF COURT-APPOINTED
ATTORNEY FEES AND EXPENSES PAID BY THE COUNTIES
The new Supreme Court Guideline for Statewide Monitoring
of Court-Appointed Attorney Fees, approved January 24, 2008 can
be read in full on the Supreme Court Best Practice Guidelines
and Standards page of the Judicial Branch Web site:
http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/guidelines/index.shtml?sub1
Direct link to the guideline:
http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/rules/guidelines/MonitoringFeesGuideline.pdf
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NEBRASKA TRIAL COURTS MAKES SCHEDULE OF COURT CASES AVAILABLE
ON-LINE
Nebraska’s Judicial Branch has launched
a new on-line service that allows attorneys, litigants and the
general public to retrieve up-to-date trial court case schedules
on the Internet.
The JUSTICE court case schedule calendar is an easy-to-use
resource designed to quickly locate a hearing scheduled in
participating courts. The new on-line case information is
available through a link on the Nebraska Judicial Branch
Web Site at:
http://www.nebraska.gov/courts/calendar/index.cgi
Searches for cases appearing on the trial court’s calendar
can be initiated by last name or date within a specific county:
Select a county name, followed by district court or county
court and enter a date or last name.
Users will find the name of the case (caption), the court’s
case identification number, the time, courtroom number, and
type of hearing.
Case schedule calendar, which is available in over 170 courts
statewide, including all 93 county courts, is updated on
a daily basis.
The service is an extension of the JUSTICE (Judicial User System
to Improve Court Efficiency) system of case management and
docketing for the trial court system.
“This project is a natural extension of the state judiciary’s
ongoing efforts to make court information available in electronic
form,” said State Court Administrator Janice Walker.
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THE COMPLETE LAWYER
The Complete
Lawyer comes to NSBA. Starting in March-April – The Nebraska
State Bar Association joins with other bar associations to share
an exciting electronic magazine with you. Watch your E-counsel
this spring for the first Nebraska-specific issue of The Complete
Lawyer magazine. Regardless of your practice area, the size of
your firm, your age or gender, you can find content of interest
in this magazine, provided free to you by your bar association.
The Complete Lawyer is published six times a year and contains
articles of interest to lawyers on a national level as well as
news and features by Nebraska lawyers.
To get a preview
of what The Complete Lawyer looks like, you can explore an
issue now: http://www.thecompletelawyer.com/volume4/issue1/index.php
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