NCJ Number
68366
Date Published
1978
Length
56 pages
Annotation
INFORMATION REFLECTING THE ACTIVITIES OF NEBRASKA COURTS DURING 1978 IS PRESENTED, INCLUDING THE SUPREME, DISTRICT COURTS, COUNTY COURTS, AND MUNICIPAL COURTS.
Abstract
THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE A STEADY GROWTH IN JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES. THE COURT, CONSISTING OF SIX JUDGES AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE, HEARS APPEALS FROM THE DISTRICT AND JUVENILE COURTS AS WELL AS CERTAIN REGULATORY AGENCIES AND THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION COURT. DURING 1978, 658 CASES WERE DOCKETED, 342 WERE DISPOSED OF BY OPINIONS, AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES DISPOSED OF WAS 619. THE DISTRICT COURT IS A TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, BUT IT ALSO FUNCTIONS AS AN INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, DECIDING APPEALS FROM THE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL COURTS. NEW FILINGS IN THE DISTRICT COURT INCREASED NEARLY 2 PERCENT IN 1978, AFTER A LESS THAN 1 PERCENT INCREASE IN 1977. NEBRASKA' S COUNTY COURTS HAVE NOW COMPLETED 6 YEARS OF OPERATION UNDER THE REORGANIZED COUNTY COURT SYSTEM, WHICH IS ORGANIZED INTO 21 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS COINCIDING WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS. THE JURISDICTIONAL LIMIT OF THE COUNTY COURTS IN CIVIL CASES IS $5000. NEBRASKA'S TWO LARGEST CITIES, OMAHA AND LINCOLN, ARE THE ONLY ONES MAINTAINING MUNICIPAL COURTS SINCE THE REORGANIZATION OF COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION IN 1973. MUNICIPAL COURT FILINGS DURING 1978 TOTALED 44,221 IN LINCOLN AND 91,129 IN OMAHA. CASELOADS IN THE THREE JUVENILE COURTS DECREASED IN 1978. FINANCING OF NEBRASKA'S COURTS IS A MIXED STATE AND LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY. TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR WERE $478,688,794. TABLES, A MAP AND STATISTICAL APPENDIX ARE INCLUDED.