News

Nebraska We the People Team Wins National Unit 4 Award

mmonahan — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 14:14:53 +0000

Nebraska We the People Team Wins National Unit 4 Award mmonahan Thu, 04/17/2025 - 09:14

Huge congratulations to the Nebraska team at the We the People National Finals! Our team won the Unit 4 Award. The Nebraska team was a combined Lincoln East High School & Lincoln Southwest High School team.

Unit Awards are presented to the schools achieving the highest cumulative scores, based on the first two days of the annual National Finals, in each of the six units of the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution textbook.

We the People National Finals took place on April 9-11, 2025 in Washington D.C.

Students participating at We the People in Washington D.C.

We the People

Six Teams Compete for We the People 2024

mmonahan — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:54:06 +0000

Six Teams Compete for We the People 2024 mmonahan Fri, 12/20/2024 - 14:54

Six schools competed in Nebraska's 2024 "We the People" contest. The Bar Foundation sponsors the Nebraska State We the People High School Finals annually at the University of Nebraska Law College in Lincoln. High school teams, each comprised of a rostered class that has used the We the People curriculum, compete with simulated hearings before community members. Nebraska judges included attorneys, professors, former staff of a US senator, a Nebraska Supreme Court Justice and others.

Lincoln East is the 2024 We the People Champion and Lincoln Southwest Silver is the Runner-Up Champion - Wild Card Qualifier for National Competition. Both teams have qualified to go to Nationals in Washington D.C. later this spring. The other competing schools were: Lincoln Northwest, Lincoln Southwest GREEN, Conestoga and Johnson Broc.

More than 1,200 high school students and their teachers participate annually in the National Finals. While in Washington, students also have an opportunity to visit historic sites and meet with members of Congress and other dignitaries.

Lincoln East High School Team

We the People

Duchesne Academy Wins High School State Mock Trial Championship

mmonahan — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:37:16 +0000

Duchesne Academy Wins High School State Mock Trial Championship mmonahan Fri, 12/13/2024 - 08:37

On December 9 and 10, ten teams from around the state of Nebraska competed in Omaha, NE to win Nebraska High School State Mock Trial. The Hruska Federal Courthouse was a great space for Nebraska High School Mock Trial Championships.

The ten teams stand in Hruska Federal Courthouse

There are ten regions in the state and the teams representing were:

Region 1: Gering High School
Region 2: Perkins
Region 3: Dundy County Stratton
Region 4: Ainsworth
Region 5: Gibbon High School
Region 6: Wayne
Region 7: York High School
Region 8: Pius
Region 9: HTRS
Region 10: Duchesne

Each school participated in three trials over the course of two days. Schools are either plaintiff or the defense in a case that is written by a group of Nebraska attorneys and a former judge. The Case Committee researches and authors an original case each year.

Students awaiting the beginning of the competition.

Five students competed in the 2024 Reporter Contest, most of whom were members of their school’s alternate team. One served as a team photographer. The schools represented were Wayne, Ainsworth, York, Gering, and Perkins High Schools.

The student reporters observed their schools' morning mock trial sessions and later met for a mentoring session with recently appointed U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryan Carson (left side of table), as well as media mentors Mike McKnight (left side of table), a WOWT news reporter and college news mentor, and Aaron Sanderford (left side of table next to Carson), the newly named editor of the Nebraska Examiner.

Students and judges discuss court reporting.

Thank you to all the mock trial volunteers; we greatly appreciate the law community around our state.

One of our favorite moments from Nebraska State High School Mock Trial was our senior photo! We are graduating 39 seniors this year. Congratulations to all the Mock Trial seniors!

Our Mock Trial Seniors.

On Monday evening, students attended a Mock Trial Banquet and were recognized for their hard work during the season. One of the highlights of the Banquet is the Mock Trial Trivia Contest. It is highly competitive and the winners get the very coveted post-its cubes (almost worth their weight in gold)!

Wayne mock trial team celebrates after winning a trivia point.

The championship round was between Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart and Perkins High School. Duchesne Academy won and will be representing Nebraska in Phoenix at Nationals in the spring of 2025.

Duchesne team with their coaches and Judge Bazis.

Mock Trial

Congrats to the 2024 Class of Fellows!

mmonahan — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:34:34 +0000

Congrats to the 2024 Class of Fellows! mmonahan Fri, 10/25/2024 - 14:34

Congratulations to our newest class of Fellows!

Selection to become a Fellow of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation is a prestigious honor bestowed annually. Selection is based on the following criteria: Integrity and character; distinction in the profession or community; contribution to the profession or the community; and contribution to the Nebraska State Bar Foundation.

Class of 2024 Fellows

Foundation Fellows

Nebraska State Bar Foundation honored with Sandra Day O’Connor Award

mmonahan — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 01:14:04 +0000

Nebraska State Bar Foundation honored with Sandra Day O’Connor Award mmonahan Wed, 08/14/2024 - 20:14

The Nebraska State Bar Foundation received the 2024 Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education on Wednesday during the CCJ/COSCA annual conference. Given by NCSC to honor the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the award recognizes an organization, court, program, or individual who has promoted, inspired, improved, or led an innovation or accomplishment in the field of civics education related to the justice system.

The bar foundation and executive director Doris Huffman were honored for their longstanding commitment to promoting civics education through activities including a high school mock trial program and Bench Media Committee designed to increase public awareness of the legal system through open dialogue with the news media. The Nebraska State Bar Foundation also developed a juror orientation video to assist the public in understanding courtroom procedures and responsibilities during jury service.

Pictured above: (from left) Nebraska Chief Justice Michael Heavican, Doris Huffman, CCJ President Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby. Photo credit Tom Lebsack

Law-Related Education

Nebraska State Bar Foundation Receives Civics Education Award

mmonahan — Fri, 24 May 2024 19:06:40 +0000

Nebraska State Bar Foundation Receives Civics Education Award mmonahan Fri, 05/24/2024 - 14:06

The Nebraska State Bar Foundation has been named the 2024 recipient of the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education.

Given by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to honor the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the award recognizes an organization, court, program, or individual who has promoted, inspired, improved, or led an innovation or accomplishment in the field of civics education related to the justice system.

“We need partners like the Nebraska State Bar Foundation to promote civics education across the country, now, more than ever,” said NCSC President Mary McQueen. “I commend the foundation’s dedication to acquainting Nebraskans of all ages with the legal system and the vital role of courts in our democracy.”

The award will be presented to the Nebraska State Bar Foundation this summer during the annual conference of the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators.

Longstanding commitment to civics education

In his nomination of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation, Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican outlined the organization’s longstanding commitment to promoting civics education.

Programming ranges from a 25-year-old high school mock trial program that engages more than 1,400 students and volunteers to a Bench Media Committee designed to increase public awareness of the legal system through open dialogue with the news media. The Nebraska State Bar Foundation also developed a juror orientation video to assist the public in understanding courtroom procedures and responsibilities during jury service.

“Although the Bar Foundation’s involvement with civics began before my service on the Court, I have personally witnessed the evolution and expansion of the State Bar Foundation’s programs as they continue to promote their mission of informing and educating the public about the legal system,” Chief Justice Heavican wrote. “The Nebraska State Bar Foundation has, for many years, been a valued partner in delivering civic education throughout the State of Nebraska to students, jurors, and consumers of local news.”

Dedicated community support

Bar Foundation Executive Director Doris Huffman added, "It's crucial to acknowledge the countless individuals in the Nebraska legal community who promote youth and adult civics education. I'd like to specifically thank the Bar Foundation Board for their strong support of all of our civics education programs and Nebraska Chief Justice Mike Heavican for his guidance. Many of our most dynamic programs trace their origins back to the Supreme Court. It is the commitment of Nebraska’s legal community that forms our programming, now and into the future."

Law-Related Education

Nebraska finishes 12th at High School Mock Trial Championships

mmonahan — Fri, 24 May 2024 19:02:41 +0000

Nebraska finishes 12th at High School Mock Trial Championships mmonahan Fri, 05/24/2024 - 14:02

Congratulations to Nebraska for finishing 12th at National Mock National High School Mock Trial Championship, Inc.! Nebraska was represented by Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Omaha.

The Delaware Law Related Education Center (“DELREC”) hosted this year’s competition May 3 and 4, 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware.

Nebraska team at Nationals

Mock Trial

Lincoln East High School Wins We The People 2023

mmonahan — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:55:43 +0000

Lincoln East High School Wins We The People 2023 mmonahan Fri, 01/26/2024 - 10:55

Six schools, with seven teams, competed in Nebraska's "We the People" contest on Monday, December 18, 2023. The Bar Foundation sponsors the Nebraska State We the People High School Finals annually at the University of Nebraska Law College in Lincoln. High school teams, each comprised of a rostered class that has used the We the People curriculum, compete with simulated hearings before community members. Nebraska judges included attorneys, professors, former staff of a US senator, a Nebraska Supreme Court Justice and others.

Lincoln East High School won the competition and will represent Nebraska at Nationals in Washington D.C. The other competing schools were: Lincoln Southeast, Lincoln North Star, Lincoln Northwest, Lincoln Southwest GREEN, Lincoln Southwest SILVER, Conestoga and Johnson Broc.

Kevin Rippe is the teacher for Lincoln East High School and will lead the team at Nationals.

We the People

Duchesne Academy Wins High School State Mock Trial Championship

mmonahan — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 17:55:57 +0000

Duchesne Academy Wins High School State Mock Trial Championship mmonahan Tue, 12/26/2023 - 11:55

On December 11 and 12, twelve teams from around the state of Nebraska competed in Lincoln, NE to win Nebraska High School State Mock Trial. The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel was a great space for Nebraska State High School Mock Trial. It is decorated beautifully for the holidays.

One of the Mock Trial students playing a piano in front of the Cornhusker Christmas Tree.

Twelve teams represented ten regions:

Region 1: Gering High School
Region 2: North Platte High School
Region 3: Perkins Senior High School
Region 4: Ainsworth High School
Region 5: Gibbon High School
Region 6: South Sioux City High School
Region 6: Wayne High School
Region 7: York High School
Region 8: Pius X Catholic High School
Region 9: Humboldt Table Rock Steinauer High school
Region 10: Duchesne Academy
Region 10: Skutt Catholic High School

A big part of mock trial is sportsmanship and this is shown after every trial when the students give awards to the opposing team for “Most Effective Witness” and “Most Effective Attorney.”

Two winners of the Most Effective Witness and Most Effective Attorney Award.

Thank you to all the mock trial volunteers; we greatly appreciate the law community around our state.

A student wins a mock trial trivia question.

The championship round was between Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart and Gering High School. Duchesne Academy won and will be representing Nebraska in Delaware at Nationals in the spring of 2024.

Winners of Nebraska State High School Mock Trial Championships.

Mock Trial

Congratulations to this year's 2023 Silver Quill Award Winners!

mmonahan — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 16:54:43 +0000

Congratulations to this year's 2023 Silver Quill Award Winners! mmonahan Sat, 10/21/2023 - 11:54

Congratulations to this year's 2023 Silver Quill Award Winners!

Kara Stark Smith, Creighton, and Amanda Landaverde, UNL.

The Silver Quill Award was established to recognize a law student's legal writing ability as displayed in the classroom and other writing situations as selected by the faculty at the University of Nebraska College of Law and Creighton Law School. Recipients receive a cash award of $500 at the Foundation's Annual Fellows Dinner, as well as have their name permanently inscribed on a plaque which hangs at each respective law school.

Winners of the Silver Quill Award Kara Stark Smith, Creighton, and Amanda Landaverde, UNL

Awards