NCJ Number
55156
Date Published
1977
Length
71 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT, ONE IN A SERIES CONTAINING PROFILES OF NONFEDERAL COURT SYSTEMS, DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE COURTS IN NEBRASKA.
Abstract
SIGNIFICANT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TOWARD CONSOLIDATING THE COURT SYSTEM IN NEBRASKA. THE JUDICIAL POWER OF THE STATE IS VESTED IN THE SUPREME COURT, DISTRICT COURTS, COUNTY COURTS, AND OTHER COURTS INFERIOR TO THE SUPREME COURT AS CREATED BY LAW. THE SUPREME COURT IS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, AND THE DISTRICT COURT IS THE TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION. COURTS OF LIMITED OR SPECIALIZED JURISDICTION ARE COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION, AND SEPARATE JUVENILE COURTS. THE SUPREME COURT HAS APPELLATE AND FINAL JURISDICTION FROM JUDGMENTS OF DISTRICT COURTS IN ALL MATTERS OF LAW, FACT, OR EQUITY. IT HAS ORIGINAL JURISDICTION IN CASES INVOLVING REVENUE, CIVIL, MANDAMUS, QUO WARRANTO, HABEAS CORPUS, AND ELECTION CONTEST MATTERS. THERE IS NO INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT IN NEBRASKA. DISTRICT COURTS HAVE APPELLATE JURISDICTION OVER MATTERS FROM COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL COURTS AND CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES. THEY HAVE CONCURRENT JURISDICTION WITH MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY COURTS IN MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY MATTERS AND IN CIVIL CASES WHERE THE AMOUNT IN CONTROVERSY IS LESS THAN $5,000. IN ALL OTHER TRIAL COURT MATTERS BEYOND THE JURISDICTION OF COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL COURTS, DISTRICT COURTS HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION. THE COUNTY COURT IS THE BASIC COURT UNIT AT THE LIMITED JURISDICTION LEVEL. PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED: THE QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, AND TERM OF THE JUDICIARY; THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES; COMPENSATION; RETIREMENT AGE AND ACTIVE SERVICE; CONTINUING EDUCATION; THE USE OF PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS; AND NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OVER ALL COURTS IN THE STATE IS VESTED IN THE SUPREME COURT. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE JUDICIARY, ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURES, FINANCE AND BUDGET, AND RECORDKEEPING AND STATISTICS. APPENDIXES CONTAIN ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM AND LIST SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE. (DEP)