State commission to weigh two Douglas County judgeships at Nov. 13 hearing; written testimony due Nov. 10
A district judge retired Oct. 30, and a separate juvenile court judge retires Dec. 31.
OMAHA - Nebraska's Judicial Resources Commission will hold a public hearing Nov. 13 on whether two Douglas County judgeships should be treated as vacancies, according to a Nebraska Judicial Branch release dated Oct. 30.
The seats belong to District Judge Timothy P. Burns, who retired Oct. 30, and Separate Juvenile Court Judge Vernon Daniels, who is set to retire Dec. 31. Both are in the 4th Judicial District, which is made up of Douglas County, according to the Judicial Branch's district directory. For each seat, the commission will also consider whether to recommend a primary office location.
The commission will also weigh whether any district needs a new judgeship or fewer judgeships, whether district boundaries should change, and how to use judges more evenly based on caseloads. Seats in two other districts are also on the agenda.
The hearing starts at 10 a.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the State Capitol in Lincoln and will be streamed by Nebraska Public Media. Written testimony must arrive by Nov. 10, mailed to Justice John R. Freudenberg, Nebraska Supreme Court, PO Box 98910, Lincoln, NE 68509, or emailed to ashley.jenkins@nejudicial.gov.
Source: Nebraska Judicial Branch release, Oct. 30, 2026: Judicial Resources Commission to hold annual meeting November 13; Nebraska Judicial Branch, District 4 directory