Highest Court
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court consists of 6
justices. It has jurisdiction over (1) Discretionary appeals from court
of appeals (2) Mandatory appeals in: death sentence or life imprisonment
cases, and cases concerning constitutionality of statute. (3) May hear
cases from or that have bypassed the Court of appeals.
Intermediate Courts
Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals consists of
6 judges in 3 judge panels. It has jurisdiction over (1) trial court appeals
except those heard by supreme court pursuant to: mandatory jurisdiction,
direct appeal statutes, removal procedures, and bypass procedures.
Workers' Compensation Court
The Workers' Compensation Court
consists of 7 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Occupational injury
or illness cases.
No Jury trials are overseen by this court.
District Courts
The District Courts consists of
55 judges serving 12 districts. It has jurisdiction over (1) Felony cases
(2) Most domestic relations cases. (3) Civil cases over $45,000 and Appellate
Court: (4) Some county court appeals. (5) administrative agency appeals.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.
Separate Juvenile Courts
The Separate Juvenile Courts consists
of 10 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) County court, juvenile, and
domestic jurisdiction.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.
County Courts
The County Courts consists of 59
judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Misdemeanor cases, including traffic
and municipal ordinance violations. (2) preliminary hearings in felony
cases. (3) civil cases involving less than $15,000. (4) probate guardianship,
conservatorship, adoption, and eminent domain. (5) small claims involving
less than $2100. (6) function as juvenile courts except in Douglas, Lancaster,
and Sarpy Counties.
Additional Information
Jurisdiction.
The impeachment of state officers
shall be tried before the Supreme Court of Nebraska. The impeachment
of a Supreme Court Judge shall be tried before the the Court of Appeals
sitting en banc. (Nebraska Revised Statutes 24-101)
Order of business.
If the Court of Impeachment interferes
with the business of any other court of Nebraska, the business of the Court
of Impeachment takes precedence. (Nebraska Revised Statutes 24-105)
Judges; eligibility.
A judge of the Supreme Court shall
be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States, practiced law
in Nebraska for at least 5 years (including prior service as a judge),
able to practice before the Nebraska Supreme Court, on the date of appointment,
a resident and elector his/her represented district. This section
and sections 24-301, 24-505.01, 43-2,118, 48-153, and
48-153.01 shall not apply to a person
serving as a judge of the Supreme Court on August 24, 1979,
who continues to serve as a judge of the Supreme Court
after such effective date.
(Nebraska Revised Statutes 24-202)
Supreme Court Education Fund;
created; use; investment.
The Supreme Court Education Fund
is to only be used in supporting mandatory training and education for judges
and employees of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts,
separate juvenile courts, county courts, and Nebraska Probation System.
The State Court Administrator shall administer the fund which shall consist
of money remitted pursuant to section 33-154. (Nebraska Revised Statutes
24-205)
Supreme Court; bailiffs.
The Supreme Court may appoint a
maximum of two bailiffs. The bailiffs are to serve any Supreme Court
processes in the exercise of its original jurisdiction. (Nebraska
Revised Statutes 24-217)
Limited admissibility.
If a piece of evidence is admissible
to one party or for one purpose, but not to the other party or purpose,
the judge may be requested to restrict the evidence to its proper scope
and instruct the jury. (Nebraska Revised Statutes 27-105)
