Nebraska Supreme Court Decisions

The Nebraska Supreme Court oversees the practice of law throughout the state, and it supervises matters related to the admission and discipline of attorneys. It holds mandatory jurisdiction over cases that involve death sentences, sentences of life imprisonment, or challenges to the validity of state laws. More broadly, the Court holds discretionary jurisdiction over appeals from the Nebraska Court of Appeals. This means that it can choose whether to hear any given appeal.

Seven justices serve on the Nebraska Supreme Court. Nebraska is divided into six judicial districts, and each of the Associate Justices represents a judicial district. When a vacancy arises, a judicial nominating commission will interview candidates for the position. The Nebraska State Bar Association chooses the eight members of the commission, of whom four members are lawyers. To serve on the Nebraska Supreme Court, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 30 years old. They also must have practiced law in Nebraska for at least five years and must be licensed to practice before the Supreme Court. The Governor of Nebraska will choose the new justice from a list of at least two candidates. If the Governor does not choose the new justice within 60 days, the Chief Justice will choose a candidate from the list.

Once they have been appointed, a justice will need to go through a retention election to stay on the Court. The retention election will occur in the first general election that is held more than three years after their appointment. If a justice is retained, they will serve a six-year term before facing another retention election. To win a retention election, they must receive at least 50 percent of the votes. While a justice may retire when they reach the age of 65, or if they develop a disability, there is no age at which they are required to retire.

Browse Opinions From the Nebraska Supreme Court
Recent Decisions From the Nebraska Supreme Court
Inland Ins. Co. v. Lancaster Cty. Bd. of Equal. -- supplemental opinion
Date: April 25, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 417
Docket Number: S-23-289
Saint James Apt. Partners v. Univeral Surety Co.  
Date: April 25, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 419
Docket Number: S-23-357

Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiffs, Saint James Apartment Partners, LLC, Central States Development, LLC, and John C. Foley, filed a civil action against Universal Surety Company, alleging that a notary public covered under Universal's bond…

State ex re. Counsel for Dis. v. Gage
Date: April 25, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 443
Docket Number: S-24-061
Thiele v. Select Med. Corp.  
Date: April 19, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 338
Docket Number: S-23-022

Justia Opinion Summary: In April 2020, Christine Thiele, a nurse liaison at Select Specialty Hospital, contracted COVID-19 and developed severe and disabling medical issues as a result. Thiele filed for workers' compensation benefits, arguing…

In re Guardianship of Patrick W.  
Date: April 19, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 381
Docket Number: S-23-209

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves an appeal against a county court's decision to appoint a permanent guardian for Patrick W., an individual deemed incapacitated due to a stroke. The appellant, Patrick W., argued that the court erred in…

Barber v. State  
Date: April 19, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 398
Docket Number: S-23-627

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves RaySean Barber, an inmate in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (DCS), who was diagnosed with a mental illness. Barber refused treatment with antipsychotic medications,…

State v. Anthony  
Date: April 12, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 308
Docket Numbers: S-23-139, S-23-130

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves the defendant, Donald Gene Anthony, who was convicted of first degree murder, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, and possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. The charges stemmed…

Castillo v. Libert Land Holdings 4  
Date: April 5, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 287
Docket Number: S-23-360

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Eduardo Castillo, the record owner of a property, and Libert Land Holdings 4 LLC (LLH4), which purchased a tax certificate for the property after Castillo failed to pay delinquent taxes. After the tax…

Northern Nat. Gas Co. v. Centennial Resource Prod.  
Date: March 29, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 263
Docket Number: S-23-647

Justia Opinion Summary: A Delaware corporation, Northern Natural Gas Company, sued another Delaware entity, Centennial Resource Production, LLC, in Nebraska for breach of contract. The dispute arose after Centennial, due to a cold weather event…

McKay v. Bartels  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 235
Docket Number: S-23-062

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, Chuck McKay appealed the dismissal of a complaint he filed seeking declaratory relief regarding the Republican Party primary election for a county commissioner position in Saline County, Nebraska in 2022.…

Simpson v. Lincoln Public Schools  
Date: March 22, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 246
Docket Number: S-23-490

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Nebraska Supreme Court reversed the lower court's denial of summary judgment, determining that the Lincoln Public Schools (LPS), a political subdivision, retained immunity from an employee's wrongful…

Crow v. Nebraska Dept. of Rev.  
Date: March 15, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 154
Docket Number: S-23-060

Justia Opinion Summary: The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed a decision holding Allen Crow, a corporate officer, personally liable for unpaid use taxes of his former corporation, Direct Media Marketing, Inc. The court determined that Crow failed…

Nebraska Journalism Trust v. Dept. of Envt. & Energy  
Date: March 15, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 174
Docket Number: S-23-155

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of Nebraska recently ruled on a dispute between the Nebraska Journalism Trust (NJT) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) over the cost of providing public records. NJT had…

Nore Electric v. S & H Holdings  
Date: March 15, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 197
Docket Number: S-23-282

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Nebraska Supreme Court interpreted the Nebraska Construction Lien Act (NCLA) and determined that construction liens can attach to the contracting owner's real estate, even if ownership of the property…

A & P II, LLC v. Lancaster Cty. Bd. of Equal.  
Date: March 15, 2024
 Citation: 316 Neb. 216
Docket Number: S-23-296

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a dispute between developers of rent-restricted housing projects and the Lancaster County Board of Equalization. The Board sought permission from the Tax Equalization and Review Commission to use a…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

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