SUPREME COURT APPOINTS FRANK E. GOODROE AS NEW STATE COURT ADMINISTRATOR
Omahan Frank E. Goodroe, a veteran court manager and administrator
has been
named Nebraska’s third State Court Administrator by Chief Justice
John V.
Hendry. He will succeed Joseph C. Steele in overseeing day-to-day
operations of a statewide office supporting more than 140 Nebraska trial
and appellate judges. Steele retires in December after serving twenty-four
years as administrator.
“Frank Goodroe has a wealth of experience in court management
and fiscal
issues related to court operations,” said Chief Justice John V.
Hendry.
“He has successfully dealt with budget tightening in our largest
metropolitan court and has worked nationally in assisting states to
design
projects which enhance specialized dockets like Drug Courts.”
Goodroe was appointed District Court Administrator for the Fourth Judicial
District in 1998 where he directs the operation of the largest general
jurisdiction court in Nebraska. He is responsible for the supervision
of
the office of the Child Support Referee, the Conciliation Court, and
the
county law library; in addition to budgetary management for the Adult
Felony Probation program and supervision of research attorneys. He is
responsible for current district court initiaves in the areas of domestic
violence, jail overcrowding, criminal case processing and sentencing
delays. Douglas County District Court is home to the first Adult Felony
Drug Court in the state where Goodroe serves as grant funds manager
and
facilitator.
Prior to joining the Nebraska court system, Goodroe’s court experience
included administration at the Michigan Court of Appeals in Lansing;
Clerk
of Court for two of the largest U. S. District Courts in Los Angeles,
California; and Clerk for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in St. Louis, Missouri.
He entered the field of court administration in 1986 in Michigan, after
having served for many years as an elected public official in Michigan.
“From the very beginning, it has been deeply rewarding for me
to have
worked with the judiciary, to have served as an advocate for the equitable
allocation of resources for judges and court personnel, and to have
articulated to the legislative and executive branches of government
the
vital importance of an adequately funded judicial branch of government
to
the effective governance of our society,” said Goodroe. “I
am hopeful that
having previously worked at the trial court level in both the state
and
federal judicial systems and at the appellate court level in the federal
system, the experience I have gained will serve me will in my new
administrative position in Lincoln.”
Goodroe is expected to begin his position in Lincoln immediately after
the
first of the year.
Reference information on the court administration from the “Citizen’s
Guide
to Nebraska Courts” also found on the Judicial Branch Web site
link below.
The Constitution of the State of Nebraska, as amended in 1970, vests
general administrative authority in the Supreme Court over all courts,
and
provides that this authority shall be exercised by the Chief Justice.
It
also states that the Chief Justice will be the executive head of the
courts, and may appoint a court administrator as an administrative
director.
The Administrative Office of the Courts is located in the State Capitol
in
Lincoln, Nebraska, close to the Supreme Court.
The court administrator's responsibilities include developing coordination
within the judicial branch and with other state agencies about programs
affecting the courts, developing plans for improvement of the judicial
system, and serving as a central source for information about the courts.
The court administrator's office has helped the state's courts in case
processing and records management, developing a statistical reporting
system for both district and county courts, and implementing a uniform
accounting system for county courts, a personnel system, and improved
in-service training programs for court personnel. The Administrative
Office has also developed a statewide automation system used by the
state
trial courts.
http://court.nol.org/publications/citizenGuide.htm
Back to Top
APPLICATION DEADLINE SET FOR COUNTY COURT JUDGE VACANCY, 11TH JUDICIAL
DISTRICT
According to Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Stephan, the
Judicial Nominating Commission for County Judge in the 11th Judicial
District (consisting of Arthur, Chase, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas,
Gosper, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson,
Perkins, Red Willow, and Thomas Counties) will hold a public hearing
in the
District Courtroom at the Keith County Courthouse in Ogallala, Nebraska,
beginning at 10 a.m. M.S.T. on Wednesday, December 10, 2003. At the
hearing, the Commission will receive information on the qualifications
of
candidates to fill a vacancy in the office of County Court Judge in
and of
the Eleventh Judicial District of the State of Nebraska, as determined
by
the Judicial Resources Commission. This vacancy is due to the retirement
of
County Judge B. Bert Leffler. Pursuant to law, the Nebraska Supreme
Court
has determined that the primary office for this judgeship shall be in
Ogallala, Keith County, Nebraska.
The public is welcome to attend the hearing and present information
concerning candidates for the judicial opening. Individuals interested
in
applying for the position must do so on an approved form available through
the Chairperson of the Commission or the Office of the State Court
Administrator, P.O. Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509. The application
form
may also be printed from the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at
www.nebraskacourt.com/manual/application.htm.
Completed applications must
be returned no later than 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 19, 2003, to
the
Chairperson, Justice Stephan, at the above-stated address or delivered
to
the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Room 2413, State Capitol.
A listing of the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission can
be found
on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at
www.nebraskacourt.com/jnc/rostercc&dc11.htm.
For special accommodations relating to the Americans with Disabilities
Act,
please call (402) 471-3730.
Back to Top
SUPREME COURT RULE CHANGE, PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, ATTORNEY ADMISSION
Rules of Practice and Procedure
October 16, 2003 — amendments to the Rules of Practice and Procedure
in the
Supreme Court and Court of Appeals - Rule 1F(2): Requires attorneys
to keep
the Clerk of the Supreme Court advised of current address.
Admission of Attorneys
October 16, 2003 — amendments to the Admission of Attorneys Rule
– Appendix
C: Assesses the cost of an independent evaluation to the commission
for
applicants with a disability.
Changes may be found on the Judicial Branch Web Site: www.nebraskacourt.com
Select “Supreme Court Rules” look under “Rule Amendments
(made within the
last 90 days)”
Notice to Court Clerks: If you do not have access to the internet and
are
interested in the full text of a specific rule, send an e-mail response
“reply with history” and your request will be forwarded to
the proper
individual. The rule will be mailed to you.
Back to Top
FIVE SUBMIT THEIR NAMES FOR COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE IN THE 3RD JUDICIAL
DISTRICT
Hon. William B. Cassel, Ainsworth; Mark D. Fitzgerald, Norfolk;
Hon. Patrick R. McDermott, Schuyler; Donald D. Schneider, Ames; and
Joseph
M. Smith, Meadow Grove, have submitted applications for appointment
as
Court of Appeals Judge in the 3rd Judicial District consisting of Antelope,
Boone, Boyd, Burt, Cedar, Colfax, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Dodge, Garfield,
Greeley, Holt, Howard, Knox, Madison, Merrick, Nance, Pierce, Platte,
Stanton, Thurston, Washington, Wayne, and Wheeler counties. The
vacancy is
due to the retirement of Judge Edward E. Hannon, effective December
31,
2003.
The public hearing of the Judicial Nominating Commission will be held
in
the Norfolk City Council Chambers, 309 Madison Avenue, Norfolk, Nebraska,
beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 21, 2003. The Commission
will
review all applicants for the office at that time. The public
is welcome
to attend the hearing and present information concerning candidates
for the
judicial opening.
A listing of the members of the Judicial Nominating Commission can
be found
on the Nebraska Judicial Branch Web site at
www.nebraskacourt.com/jnc/rostera3.htm.
For special accommodations relating to the Americans with
Disabilities Act, please call (402) 471-3730.
Back to Top
DIRECTOR OF JUDICIAL BRANCH EDUCATION
Applications are being accepted for the position of Director of Judicial
Branch Education for the Nebraska Supreme Court. This is professional
staff
work in developing and implementing a comprehensive education program
for
the Nebraska state court judges and employees of the Nebraska Supreme
Court
under the direction of the State Court Administrator and the Nebraska
Judicial Branch Education Advisory Committee. Qualifications required
include a bachelor’s degree and considerable experience in the
management
of adult education programs. An advanced degree, graduation as an ICM
Fellow and court knowledge is preferred. Beginning monthly salary
is from
$3,943 to $4,462 based on experience.
Applications must be received by November 21, 2003. Send all
applications
to:
State Court Administrator
P.O. Box 98910
Room 1220 State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509-8910
Notify the Administrative Office of the Courts at (402) 471-3730 for
special accommodations relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
For persons with hearing impairment, please call the Nebraska Relay
System
at 7-1-1. A.A./E.O.E.
Back to Top
