Nebraska Supreme Court elections
There are seven justices on the Nebraska Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Nebraska judicial elections page.
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Nebraska
The seven justices on the Nebraska Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method. The governor appoints each new justice from a list of at least two qualified nominees assembled by a judicial nominating commission.[1][2] There are separate judicial nominating commissions for each supreme court district, as well as the chief justiceship. Each commission is made up of nine members. Members of the Nebraska State Bar Association select four lawyers and the governor appoints four nonlawyers. The ninth member is a supreme court justice who serves as chairman but does not vote.[2][3]
Justices must run in a yes-no retention election during the first general election occurring after they have been on the court for three years. Subsequent terms last six years.[4]
Qualifications
To serve on the Nebraska Supreme Court, a person must:
- be at least 30 years old;
- be a U.S. citizen;
- have practiced law in Nebraska for at least five years;
- be a member of the state bar; and
- be a resident of the judicial district for which they are being appointed.[5]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is selected through the same assisted appointment method as other justices on the court and serves in that role for the duration of his or her time on the court.[6]
Vacancies
When a vacancy occurs on the Nebraska Supreme Court, a judicial nominating commission submits the names of at least two qualified nominees to the governor, who appoints one to fill the vacancy. If the governor does not appoint one of the nominees within 60 days, the chief justice of the supreme court is authorized to select a new judge.[4]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Elections
Nebraska Supreme Court District 1
See also: Nebraska Supreme Court elections, 2030
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Nebraska Supreme Court elections, 2028
Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Nebraska Supreme Court District 3
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Nebraska Supreme Court District 4
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Nebraska Supreme Court District 5
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Nebraska Supreme Court District 6
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Nebraska Supreme Court District 1
See also: Nebraska Supreme Court elections, 2024
Nebraska Supreme Court District 1
Stephanie Stacy was retained to District 1 of the Nebraska Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 76.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 76.0 | 89,834 |
| No | 24.0 | 28,310 | |
| Total Votes | 118,144 |
 | The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Nebraska Supreme Court elections, 2022
Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice
Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice
Michael Heavican was retained to Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 71.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 71.3 | 375,342 |
| No | 28.7 | 151,269 | |
| Total Votes | 526,611 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Nebraska Supreme Court District 3
Nebraska Supreme Court District 3
William Cassel was retained to District 3 of the Nebraska Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 72.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 72.4 | 67,276 |
| No | 27.6 | 25,648 | |
| Total Votes | 92,924 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Nebraska Supreme Court District 4
Nebraska Supreme Court District 4
Jonathan Papik was retained to District 4 of the Nebraska Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 66.9% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 66.9 | 53,844 |
| No | 33.1 | 26,586 | |
| Total Votes | 80,430 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Nebraska Supreme Court District 6
Nebraska Supreme Court District 6
John Freudenberg was retained to District 6 of the Nebraska Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 76.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 76.2 | 67,676 |
| No | 23.8 | 21,172 | |
| Total Votes | 88,848 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Nebraska Supreme Court elections, 2020
Nebraska Supreme Court District 2
Nebraska Supreme Court District 2
Lindsey Miller-Lerman was retained to District 2 of the Nebraska Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 74.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 74.2 | 93,025 |
| No | 25.8 | 32,350 | |
| Total Votes | 125,375 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Nebraska Supreme Court District 5
Nebraska Supreme Court District 5
Jeffrey Funke was retained to District 5 of the Nebraska Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 78.8% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 78.8 | 93,418 |
| No | 21.2 | 25,152 | |
| Total Votes | 118,570 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Nebraska Supreme Court District 1
See also: Nebraska Supreme Court elections, 2018
Nebraska Supreme Court District 1
Stephanie Stacy was retained to District 1 of the Nebraska Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 81.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 81.0 | 77,174 |
| No | 19.0 | 18,141 | |
| Total Votes | 95,315 |
| The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2 |
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Judicial Selection in the States: Nebraska | Overview," accessed August 16, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 National Center for State Courts, "Judicial Selection in the States: Nebraska | Judicial Nominating Commissions," accessed August 16, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska State Constitution Article V-21," accessed August 16, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 State of Nebraska Judicial Branch, "Branch Overview," accessed August 16, 2021
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "Nebraska Revised Statute 24-202," accessed August 16, 2021
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Nebraska," accessed August 16, 2021
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Nebraska • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Nebraska
State courts:
Nebraska Supreme Court • Nebraska Court of Appeals • Nebraska District Courts • Nebraska County Courts • Nebraska Separate Juvenile Courts • Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court • Nebraska Problem-Solving Courts
State resources:
Courts in Nebraska • Nebraska judicial elections • Judicial selection in Nebraska
