ANNUAL YLS GOLF SCRAMBLE
This year's YLS Golf
Scramble will be held at Tregaron Golf Club of Bellevue on Friday,
July 27, 2007. The $75 golfer fee includes
range fees, cart, prizes, dinner and 2 drink tickets. Click here
for the registration form.
Back to Top
RULES
FOR MANDATORY LEGAL EDUCATION FOR NEBRASKA LAWYERS
Comments are requested on the proposed Rules Relating to
Continuing Legal Education for attorneys admitted to the practice
of law in Nebraska.
To review the proposed rules and the Nebraska State Bar Association's
petition, go to the Judicial Branch Web site at:
http://court.nol.org/rules/index.shtml
Comments are needed no later than August 1, 2007 in writing
to the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of
Appeals, P.O. Box 98910, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8910, or via
e-mail to lasmussen@nsc.state.ne.us
Back to Top
CHARITABLE
FUNDS INC. UPCOMING EVENTS
Please mark your calendars for any or all of the upcoming
CFI events in 2007.
August
20, 2007- 11th Annual NSBA-CFI Golf Scramble, Oak
Hills Country Club, Omaha. Registration includes, golf cart,
driving range, lunch
and
dinner. Prizes awarded to top teams
in two flights, along with hole prizes and raffle items.
Proceeds will benefit VLP. If you wish to be a sponsor,
click here.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2007
SPONSORS FOR THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL VLP
GOLF SCRAMBLE!!
If you or
your members are interested in further information on this
event, please contact Sam
Clinch at 800-927-0117, ext. 25.
Back to Top
APPLICATION
DEADLINE SET FOR SEPARATE JUVENILE COURT JUDGE VACANCY, LANCASTER
COUNTY
According to Supreme Court Justice Michael McCormack, the
Judicial Nominating Commission for Separate Juvenile Judge
in Lancaster County will hold a public hearing in the Supreme
Court Courtroom, Room 2200, State Capitol Building, 1445
K Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
July 10, 2007. At the hearing, the Commission will receive
information on the qualifications of candidates to fill the
new judgeship position created by LB 377.
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.supremecourt.ne.gov/forms/supreme-court-judicial-vacancy.shtml.
Completed applications must be returned no later than 5:00 p.m.,
Tuesday, June 19, 2007, to the Chairperson, Justice McCormack,
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.supremecourt.ne.gov/commissions/jnc-juvl-roster.shtml.
For special accommodations relating to the Americans with Disabilities
Act, please call (402) 471-3730. For persons with hearing impairments,
please call the Nebraska Relay System, 7-1-1. AA/EOE.
Back to Top
FRASER STRYKER AWARDS DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
Fraser Stryker has announced the recipients of the 2007 Fraser
Stryker Diversity Scholarship Program. The purpose of the Scholarship
Program is to provide college tuition assistance and paid internships
at the firm for students of African-American, Asian, Latino and
Native-American origins from low-income families in the Omaha
metro area. Scholarships are for students who are interested
in a career in law. Each scholarship will be in the amount of
$2,500 per academic year.
The two scholarships recipients are Yvonnda Summers, graduate
of Millard South High School and Divine W. Shelton, graduate of
Northwest High School. Both graduates are attending Creighton University
in the fall of 2007.
Yvonnda Summers is the daughter of Monique and Otis Cooper
of Omaha. Yvonnda was a Senior Class Board Member, National Forensic
League Executive Board Member, Forensic Class Officer and a Douglas
County Teen Court Peer Judge at Millard South High School. She
also was a member of the National Honor Society, Silver and Bronze
honor Roll and placed first in the Forensics Speech Time. Yvonnda’s
intended University major is Pre-Law, Political Science.
Divine W. Shelton is the son of Pamela Alston and Clifton Shelton
of Omaha. Divine was the Senior Class President, Charter Member
of the African American Leadership Association and on the Varsity
track team at Northwest High School. He was also a member of
the National Honor Society, Northwest Honor Roll and Who’s Who
Among High School Students. Divine’s intended University Major
is Pre-Law, Political Science with a Public Policy emphasis.
Fraser Stryker is hosting a reception for the scholarship recipients, their families
and employees of the law firm on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 5:30pm in the OPPD
atrium at 409 South 17th Street. Formed in 1898, Fraser Stryker has grown to
become a nationally recognized law firm of 50 lawyers who represent local, national
and multinational clients in complex business transactions and litigation matters.
Fraser Stryker attorneys participate actively in a wide array of community organizations.
For more information
on the Fraser Stryker Diversity Scholarship Program, please
visit www.fraserstryker.com.
Back to Top
GAL TRAINING SCHEDULE/REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Registration and schedule information is now available for
mandated training for guardians ad litem in abuse and neglect
cases. Information is available on the website of the /Through
the Eyes of the Child/ Initiative ( www.throughtheeyes.org ).
Victoria Weisz, M.L.S., Ph.D.
Research Professor
Center on Children, Families, and the Law University of Nebraska
- Lincoln
121 S. 13th St. Suite 302
Lincoln, NE 68588-0227
telephone: 402-472-9814
fax: 402-472-8412
e-mail: vweisz1@unl.edu
Back to Top
LAW SCHOOL DEAN NAMED VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
AT CREIGHTON
Creighton
University School of Law Dean Patrick J. Borchers, J.D., has
been named vice president for Academic Affairs at Creighton.
His term is effective July 1, 2007. He replaces Christine Wiseman,
J.D., who was named provost of Loyola Chicago.
Borchers has served as law dean for eight years. From 1990
to 1999, Borchers was a faculty member and an associate dean
at Albany Law School in New York. Prior to that he was in private
law practice in California and also served as a law clerk for
the Hon. Anthony M. Kennedy, now an Associate Justice of the
U.S. Supreme Court.
Under his leadership applications to Creighton’s law school
have more than doubled and the school has won several regional
and national trial skills, negotiating and moot court competitions.
During his tenure the school has hosted the Hon. Clarence Thomas
of the U.S. Supreme Court as a visiting professor every other
year.
The law school was awarded it’s first federal grant from the
U. S. Agency for International Development which is being used
to study resolution of property claims involving Cuba. Borchers,
an international expert in conflict of laws, is leading a cross-disciplinary
team of six faculty and seven students working on the project.
In 2005, a $4 million gift from the family of C.L. Werner,
founder of Werner Enterprises, helped establish the Werner Institute
for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution which enrolled almost
50 master’s students in its first year.
The law school also received a U.S. Department of Justice grant
to create a Community Economic Development Clinic, which is committed
to encouraging economic growth and stability within under-served
communities in Nebraska, while providing third-year law students
a clinical experience.
In 2005, a $4 million gift from the family of C.L. Werner,
founder of Werner Enterprises, helped establish the Werner Institute
for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution which enrolled almost
50 master’s students in its first year.
Borchers received his law degree from the University of California,
Davis, in 1986. In 1983 he earned a bachelor of science degree
in physics from Notre Dame, where he was a Rhodes Scholar nominee.
Borchers is the author of four books and more than 50 law review
articles. He serves as co-chair of Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey’s task
force on public safety and on the board of Catholic Charities.
Back to Top
THE LANCASTER COUNTY SELF HELP DESK
A joint project of Legal Aid of Nebraska and the Nebraska
State Bar Association will open July second. The Self Help Desk
is
in need of volunteers willing to spend a couple of hours giving
information and limited advice to self-represented litigants.
Initially the Self-Help Desk will focus on domestic relations
matters.
The Self Help Desk will be opened Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
To find out more about this pilot project, please contact Jean
McNeil at 475-7091 or jmcneil@nebar.com.
Thank you for your consideration.
Back to Top
APPLICATION DEADLINE SET FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE VACANCY, NINTH
JUDICIAL DISTRICT
According to Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Stephan, the
Judicial Nominating Commission for District Judge in the 9th
Judicial District (consisting of Buffalo and Hall Counties) will
hold a public hearing in District Courtroom No. 1 at the Buffalo
County Courthouse located at 1512 Central Avenue in Kearney,
Nebraska,
beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 2007. The Supreme
Court has determined that either Buffalo County or Hall County
is acceptable as a primary office, because in order to provide
maximum service to all areas of the judicial district, the judge
will be required to sit in both counties. Accordingly, the final
choice of the location of the primary office shall be left to
the judge appointed to fill the vacancy. At the hearing, the
Commission will receive information on the qualifications of
candidates to fill the new judgeship position created by LB 377.
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.supremecourt.ne.gov/forms/supreme-court-judicial-vacancy.shtml.
Completed applications must be returned no later than 5:00 p.m.,
Tuesday, July 3, 2007, 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.supremecourt.ne.gov/commissions/jnc-ccdc9-roster.shtml.
For special accommodations relating to the Americans with Disabilities
Act, please call (402) 471-3730. For persons with hearing impairments,
please call the Nebraska Relay System, 7-1-1. AA/EOE.
Back to Top
LEO DOBROVOLNY OF ALLIANCE APPOINTED TO TWELFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
JUDGESHIP
Gov. Dave Heineman announced his appointment of Leo
Dobrovolny to serve as a district court judge for the Twelfth
Judicial District of Nebraska, which includes the counties of
Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill,
Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux.
“Mr. Dobrovolny’s experience in both the public and private
sector will serve him well in this new role,” Gov. Heineman said.
“The fact that he has spent his entire legal career representing
those in western Nebraska gives me confidence that his familiarity
and expertise will benefit residents in this part of our state
for years to come.”
In addition to maintaining a private practice in Alliance for
more than 20 years, Dobrovolny, 51, served as a deputy in the
Box Butte County Attorney’s Office from 1985 to 1988 and has
served as city attorney for Alliance since 1989. Starting in
1980, he served in the Box Butte County Public Defender’s Office
while working as an attorney at Sampson and Forney, where he
became a partner in 1982.
He was selected to serve as the special prosecutor in a grand
jury investigation in 2005, and was chairman of the Box Butte
County Mental Health Board from 1998 to 2003. In addition to
his 27 years of legal experience, Dobrovolny has been a member
of the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department since 1993, where he
has held several leadership roles.
Dobrovolny said, “I am very excited to have this opportunity
to continue my public service. I appreciate the Governor’s confidence
in me and the support I’ve received from the local community.
As a judge, my first priority will be to fairly and efficiently
administer the laws of Nebraska for all parties.”
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wayne State College in 1977
with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science, and
received his law degree in 1980 from the Creighton University
School of Law.
Back to Top
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINE AMENDMENTS
The amendments to the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines have
been posted to the "Rule Amendments" section of the
Rules page:
http://court.nol.org/rules/amendments/ChildSupportRuleAmds.pdf
The rules themselves, located in the main portion of the Rules
page will not be updated nor will the separate worksheets and
table in the Forms section, until the effective date of July
1, 2007.
Back to Top
JEFFREY FUNKE OF NEBRASKA CITY APPOINTED TO SECOND JUDICIAL
DISTRICT JUDGESHIP
Gov. Dave Heineman announced his appointment of Jeffrey
Funke to serve as a county court judge for Nebraska’s Second
Judicial District, which includes Cass, Otoe and Sarpy Counties.
“Mr. Funke’s experience in the public and private sectors will
suit him well in this new role,” Gov. Heineman said. “I appreciate
the interest he’s shown in continuing his public service to the
residents of the second judicial district.”
Funke, 38, began his legal career working at Nelsen Law Office
in Nebraska City from 1994 to 1997. During that time, he also
worked as a deputy public defender for Otoe County.
In 1997, he became a partner with Hoch, Funke and Kelch law
firm, now Hoch, Funke and Partsch, and served as a deputy county
attorney for Otoe County, becoming the Otoe County Attorney in
2005.
He held elected office from 1996 to 2002 as a member of the
Nebraska City Airport Authority Board. He was president of the
Second Judicial District Bar Association in 1999 and led the
Otoe County Bar Association from 1995 to 1996. He is currently
vice president of the Friends of Arbor Lodge Foundation and has
been secretary of the Morton James Public Library Foundation
since 1997.
Funke said, “I’m very excited to be able to serve the public
in this judicial capacity, and am honored by both the Governor’s
confidence in me and the support I’ve received from the community.
I will strive to impartially and efficiently perform the duties
of county judge for all those who come before the bench.”
He received a business
degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) in 1991 and graduated with honors from the UNL College
of Law in 1994.
Back to Top
