Nebraska State Bar Association hosts summer seminar in Lexington (2024)

LEXINGTON — The Nebraska State Bar Association conducted a Summer Tour seminar Monday at Central Community College, providing an opportunity for legal professionals in the region to expand their knowledge and refine their skills.

The event, which lasted six hours, consisted of multiple sessions designed to address key aspects of legal practice in Nebraska, including resiliency, succession planning and the intricacies of court-awarded attorney fees.

The seminar attracted a diverse group of legal professionals and community members to Central Community College. Attendees were treated to a free lunch provided by Subway, allowing for networking and discussion during the midday break.

Among the attendees were Lexington City Attorney Brian Copley, lawyer Claire Bazata of Berreckman and Bazata in Cozad, and the former chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Douglas A. Kristensen.

The event featured a range of distinguished speakers, each bringing expertise in different areas of law.

The opening and closing sessions were led by retired 11th District Court Judge James Doyle IV. Doyle has been a central figure in Nebraska’s legal community for many years.

Doyle expressed his satisfaction with the event’s turnout and extended his gratitude to Central Community College for hosting the event. He highlighted the importance of such gatherings in ensuring that attorneys in Nebraska remain well-informed and equipped to serve their communities effectively.

Doyle also reflected on the history of the event, noting that similar seminars had been a regular occurrence until they were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The return of the seminar, he said, marked a significant moment for the legal community in Nebraska, providing a much-needed platform for continuing education and professional development.

In relation to the summer tour, NSBA Executive Director Liz Neeley and U.S. District Judge for Nebraska John M. Gerrard spoke to the Clipper-Herald to give insights about the recent 2024 Judicial Evaluation Poll, results of which are available at nebar.com.

Gerrard explained the primary purpose of the evaluation poll, emphasizing its role in guiding voters during judicial retention elections. He highlighted a common issue where voters are faced with the names of judges they may not be familiar with, making it difficult to make informed decisions.

“What happens so often is somebody walks into a polling place on Nov. 5, and all of a sudden there are three judges’ names that are sitting in front of them that they’ve never heard before, and they’re expected to vote yes or no on retention,” Gerrard said.

The evaluation poll provides detailed assessments of judges across various metrics, including legal analysis, judicial demeanor and communication skills.

Gerrard explained the importance of judicial independence in maintaining a fair and impartial judiciary. He said while the legislative branch represents the will of the people through the passage of laws, the judiciary’s role is to interpret these laws in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution, free from political pressures. This, he argued, is vital to the integrity of the judicial system and the protection of individual rights.

“The best thing that a voter can do is to ask the local lawyers in the community about the judge and how they would vote for them,” he said.

Gerrard said the evaluations are given for the judges of the Nebraska Supreme Court, Nebraska Court of Appeals, district and county courts, Workers Compensation Court, juvenile court districts, Social Security and the U.S. district courts.

Neeley provided additional context on the judicial retention process in Nebraska, explaining that judges stand for retention by voters three years after their initial appointment and every six years thereafter. She detailed the rigorous application and vetting process that candidates undergo before being appointed, including the requirements of letters of recommendation, public hearings and reviews by a bipartisan nominating commission.

“Eventually, a review of all the candidates and their names are forwarded to the governor for appointment,” Neeley said, “and that process can take several months of just vetting to make sure that we have highly qualified candidates for judicial appointment in Nebraska.”

Neeley also mentioned potential changes to the evaluation process for the next poll in 2026. She noted that the NSBA had recently conducted research on evaluation tools used nationwide, aiming to adopt best practices and ensure the poll remains a reliable resource for voters.