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
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…

State v. Rashad  
Date: March 8, 2024
Citation: 316 Neb. 101
Docket Number: S-22-097

Justia Opinion Summary: The Nebraska Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Court of Appeals in a case involving the right to a speedy trial. The defendant, Justin N. Rashad, was charged with first degree assault and use of a firearm to…

State v. Gleaton  
Date: March 8, 2024
Citation: 316 Neb. 114
Docket Number: S-22-560

Justia Opinion Summary: The State of Nebraska convicted DeShawn L. Gleaton, Jr. of first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and witness tampering. Gleaton appealed, arguing that…

Inland Ins. Co. v. Lancaster Cty. Bd. of Equal.  
Date: March 8, 2024
Citation: 316 Neb. 143
Docket Number: S-23-289

Justia Opinion Summary: The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in a dispute involving property tax assessment after a real estate property was damaged by fire due to arson. The issue at the core of the case was whether a fire caused by arson could be…

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #88 v. State  
Date: March 1, 2024
Citation: 316 Neb. 28
Docket Number: S-22-748

Justia Opinion Summary: The Nebraska Supreme Court reversed a decision made by the Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR) that included corrections unit case managers within the protective service bargaining unit (PSBU), represented by the…

State v. Gnewuch  
Date: March 1, 2024
Citation: 316 Neb. 47
Docket Number: S-23-038

Justia Opinion Summary: The case before the Nebraska Supreme Court involved an appeal by Nathaniel L. Gnewuch, who was convicted of operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest. Gnewuch had requested a deferred sentence under Nebraska Revised…

Clason v. LOL Investments
Date: March 1, 2024
Citation: 316 Neb. 91
Docket Number: S-23-223
State v. Npimnee  
Date: February 23, 2024
Citation: 316 Neb. 1
Docket Number: S-23-147

Justia Opinion Summary: In Nebraska, a man named Hope T. Npimnee was convicted of first-degree sexual assault and sentenced to 35 to 40 years in prison. The victim, identified as S.M., claimed that she was intoxicated when Npimnee had…

State v. Lear  
Date: February 23, 2024
Citation: 316 Neb. 14
Docket Number: S-23-356

Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, Melvin Lear, was charged with a felony offense by the State of Nebraska. Lear requested a continuance in order to conduct additional discovery, which was granted by the court. However, the continuance…

State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Bramblett
Date: February 23, 2024
Citation: 316 Neb. 24
Docket Number: S-23-778
SID No. 596 v. THG Development  
Date: February 16, 2024
Citation: 315 Neb. 926
Docket Numbers: S-22-688, S-23-134

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves two consolidated appeals related to Sanitary and Improvement District No. 596 of Douglas County, Nebraska (SID 596) and THG Development, L.L.C. (THG), a real estate owner whose property adjoins but is…

State v. Miller  
Date: February 16, 2024
Citation: 315 Neb. 951
Docket Number: S-23-124

Justia Opinion Summary: The appellant, Jordon J. Miller, was convicted and sentenced for second degree murder following a plea agreement. The charge stemmed from an incident when shots were fired at a passing vehicle, resulting in the death of…

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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