Yuri Cole was sworn in as Clerk Magistrate of the Keith County Court and Arthur County Court on April 30 at the Keith County Courthouse in Ogallala, Nebraska. Judge Joel Jay officiated the ceremony, according to a May 5 announcement.
The appointment of Cole matters to local communities because clerk magistrates play a key role in court operations and public service. State Court Administrator Corey Steel said during the ceremony that he reflected on “the importance of the role of clerk magistrate to the courts they serve, the Judicial Branch, and the communities at large.” Steel also acknowledged “the recent passings of former Clerk Magistrate Robin Cobaugh and Judge Edward Steenburg.”
Cole began her duties on March 2, replacing former Clerk Magistrate Robin Cobaugh. The State of Nebraska Judicial Branch extends across 18 judicial districts covering both urban and rural areas, maintains court facilities statewide for public access, engages communities through educational efforts such as traveling oral arguments at schools, provides resources on guardianship and mediation, delivers justice with integrity while supporting self-represented litigants, enhances community access to legal resources, features standardized rules and forms for consistent operations statewide, and includes leadership from a Supreme Court of seven justices along with judges from appellate, district, and county courts—according to the official website.
The swearing-in event included remarks by Judge Jay and Steel. A photo was taken featuring Judge Joel Jay, Yuri Cole, and Corey Steel.
Cole’s appointment continues a tradition of service within Nebraska’s judicial system that is designed to ensure fair access to justice throughout all regions of the state.