The Nebraska Supreme Court held oral arguments at Elkhorn High School on April 1, giving students a chance to see the court in action and learn about its role in the justice system.
The event was part of the court’s ongoing outreach efforts to help students understand how courts work and how their decisions can affect society. The Supreme Court visits high schools three times each year and also makes annual visits to law schools in Nebraska. These sessions are planned with help from the Nebraska Bar Foundation to improve legal literacy among young people, exposing them to legal terminology, procedures, and different styles of argument.
Steve Gealy, an attorney and president of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation, began the session by explaining differences between trial courts and appellate courts. He said this would give students a better understanding during the argument session.
After hearing cases at Creighton University School of Law earlier that day, justices spoke with students about what happens during appeals and possible careers in law. The cases selected for law school sessions show a range of legal topics typically seen by the court system. At high schools like Elkhorn, cases are chosen based on what is suitable for younger audiences.
All argument sessions—whether held in Lincoln or elsewhere—are open to members of the public. Audio recordings and most video recordings are available online through an oral argument archive maintained by the Judicial Branch Website.
The State of Nebraska Judicial Branch engages communities through educational activities such as traveling oral arguments at schools and offers resources on guardianship and mediation according to its official website. The branch maintains court facilities across Nebraska’s urban and rural areas to ensure public access within its 18 judicial districts statewide as reported by its website. It aims to deliver justice with integrity while supporting self-represented litigants and expanding community access to legal resources according to its official site. Leadership includes seven Supreme Court justices along with judges from appellate, district, and county courts as outlined online, all operating under standardized rules designed for consistency throughout state courts according to information provided.
