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Nebraska Supreme Court elections, 2020
| 2020 State Judicial Elections | |
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The terms of two Nebraska Supreme Court justices expired on January 7, 2021. The two seats were up for retention election on November 3, 2020.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Nebraska modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Mail-in ballots were sent to all registered voters in the general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and results
District 2: Miller-Lerman's seat
Nebraska Supreme Court District 2, Miller-Lerman's seat
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 | ||||
|
|
District 5: Funke's seat
Nebraska Supreme Court District 5, Funke's seat
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 | ||||
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|
Past elections
2018
- See also: Nebraska Supreme Court elections, 2018
Nebraska Supreme Court District 1, Stacy's seat
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 | ||||
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2016
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About the Nebraska Supreme Court
- See also: Nebraska Supreme Court
The court consists of a chief justice and six associate justices. Each associate justice represents one of six districts. A full term on the court is six years. Retention elections take place during Nebraska's general elections, which are held every two years in even-numbered years.
Political composition
This was the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2020 election. Justices on the Nebraska Supreme Court are appointed to their seats.
| ■ William Cassel | Appointed by Gov. Dave Heineman (R) in 2012 | |
| ■ John Freudenberg | Appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) in 2018 | |
| ■ Jeffrey Funke | Appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) in 2016 | |
| ■ Michael Heavican | Appointed by Gov. Dave Heineman (R) in 2006 | |
| ■ Lindsey Miller-Lerman | Appointed by Gov. Ben Nelson (D) in 1998 | |
| ■ Jonathan Papik | Appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) in 2018 | |
| ■ Stephanie Stacy | Appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) in 2015 |
Selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Nebraska
Judges are selected using an assisted appointment system. When vacancies occur, a judicial nominating commission holds a hearing to interview candidates to replace the departed judge. The commission is made up of four lawyers selected by the Nebraska State Bar Association and four non-lawyers selected by the governor.[1] The commission is chaired by a Nebraska Supreme Court justice who cannot vote. The commission chooses at least two candidates to submit to the governor, who has 60 days to make an appointment. If the governor does not appoint someone in time, the chief justice is responsible for choosing one of the commission's nominees.[1]
Judges who wish to retain their seats must run for retention in the first general election occurring more than three years after appointment. Judges are then subject to retention every six years. Voters are asked to answer the question, "Shall Judge___________be retained in office?" To remove a judge, more than 50 percent of voters must indicate they do not want the judge to be retained.[1]
Judges may retire at 65 years old, but there is no mandatory retirement age in the state.[1]
Qualifications
To serve as a judge in Nebraska, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 30 years old, have practiced law in Nebraska for at least five years, and be currently licensed to practice before the state supreme court.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
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
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