Nebraskans don’t elect judges, but we do get a say on whether they should keep their seats.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5th, and 33 judges are up for retention votes this year. The names on your ballot will depend on your community. In each case, you will see a question asking if a judge should be "retained in office.” A YES vote is to keep the judge on the court. A NO vote is to end their term on the court.
Do you know enough to make an informed vote? Unlike many candidate races or ballot initiatives, it can be difficult to find the information you want to make a decision. The ACLU of Nebraska does not endorse or oppose candidates, including taking positions on retention votes, but we do want you to make an informed decision. To offer an easier starting point, we’ve included key details from the Nebraska Judicial Branch’s website and responses to the Nebraska State Bar Association’s survey of attorneys from across the state — a long-running nonpartisan project. The survey asks attorneys to rate judges on their overall legal analysis, impartiality, attentiveness, opinions, judicial temperament, appropriate communication and timeliness. The scores (excellent, good, satisfactory, deficient and very poor) are Bar measurements and not developed by the ACLU of Nebraska.
Results are sorted by judicial districts, which are different from congressional districts. Some include just one county, such as Judicial District 3 (Lancaster County) and Judicial District 4 (Douglas County). Others include multiple counties. Determine your district by checking the Judicial Branch website or simply looking at the names on your county’s sample ballot. Read the results for judges on your ballot, then continue your research to make an informed vote.