The Separate Juvenile Courts of the US state of Nebraska are specialised courts located in the counties of Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy.[1] A county which has a population of or over 75,000 is eligible to have a separate juvenile court, and the proposal to establish one must be voted on by the electorate of the county.[2] The clerk of the district court in the county serves ex-officio as the clerk of the juvenile court.[3]
Juvenile courts have jurisdiction over certain juveniles who have committed traffic offences, misdemeanours, infractions, violations of city ordinances, and well as all juveniles who have committed a felony, who are mentally ill and dangerous, who are homeless, destitute, abandoned, or lacking care, who are habitually truant from home or school, amongst other areas.[4]
A juvenile court has two judges if it has a population of more than 75,000, four judges if more than 300,000, and six judges if more than 500,000.[5] Judges serve for an initial term of three years, then, following a retention vote, six years.[6]
As of July 2024, the judges of the courts are:
| County | Judges | |
|---|---|---|
| Sarpy | Jonathon D. CrosbySarah M. Moore | |
| Lancaster | Roger J. HeidemanReggie L. Ryder Shellie D. Sabata Elise M. W. White | |
| Douglas | Chad M. BrownVernon Daniels Matthew R. Kahler Candice J. Novak Amy N. Schuchman Mary M. Z. Stevens |