Nebraska
Nebraska’s highest court is the Nebraska Supreme Court. The court has six associate justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is appointed according to the same procedure as the associate justices. (Source: Nebraska Supreme Court)
Judicial Selection
The governor appoints justices to the Nebraska Supreme Court from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. After at least three years on the court, the justice may stand for a six-year term in an unopposed yes/no retention vote at the time of Nebraska’s next general election. Justices may stand for additional terms in the same retention process. When a seat on the Nebraska Supreme Court opens in the middle of a justice’s term, the governor appoints a candidate from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. There are no term limits, nor is there a mandatory retirement age.
State Constitution
Nebraska has had two state constitutions adopted in 1866 and 1875. As of January 1, 2024, it had 235 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
Filters
The Right to Petition in State Constitutions, Explained
Some states protect citizens’ right to make requests of or complaints against the government more broadly than the federal Constitution.
What the SCOTUS Term Means for State Courts
Some of the Court’s most important holdings — including on abortion, gun restrictions, and presidential immunity — have implications for state courts and constitutions.
Texas Supreme Court to Hear Arguments Over Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Minors
Families of transgender children are asking the court to reinstate a temporary injunction blocking the ban.
Judicial Deference to Agency Expertise in the States
Almost all state courts recognize the importance of agencies’ expertise in policymaking.
SCOTUS’s 2nd Amendment Decision Leaves Open Questions for State Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the disarmament of a domestic abuser in United States v. Rahimi, but litigation over where to draw the line will continue.
Three U.S. Supreme Court Cases that Transformed State Judicial Elections
Judicial elections have become major political battlegrounds — complete with dark money, special interests, and attack ads — thanks to several U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
Every State Supreme Court Justice in One Searchable Database
A new resource from the State Law Research Initiative lets users sort the nation’s high court justices by state, professional background, party affiliation, and more.
New Findings Highlight Lack of Diversity on State Supreme Courts
More data and further scholarship is needed to devise policies for promoting a state bench that adequately represents the varied background of the public.