- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
What are Nebraska Court Records?
With over 1.9 million residents, Nebraska ranks as the 37th most populous state in the United States. The state's population is served by various levels of court comprising the trial and appellate courts, and over 315,000 cases are filed annually within the state's judicial branch. Records gathered from these cases are called court records in Nebraska, and they are considered public records unless sealed.
Nebraska court records can be in the form of materials such as papers, books, calendars, reports, and pertinent information generated or collected in the course of court proceedings within the state. A typical court record in Nebraska is made up of complaints/indictments, case information, evidence, pleadings, orders, motions, transcripts, court minutes, witness testimonies, notices, and briefs.
Case File
This is a collection of all documents filed in a court regarding a legal case. While the content may vary depending on the case type, it typically contains all filings that occur throughout the life of a case.
Docket
This is a log containing the entire history of a case and is usually represented as chronological entries summarizing all proceedings in a court case.
Judgment
This is a court's decision regarding a case. It typically resolves the disputes between parties in any case by either granting or denying a plaintiff's claim.
Court Minutes
This is a well-written record of the proceedings in a courtroom. It details the start and recess of trials, names of witnesses, names of attorneys, and the court rulings.
Transcript
This is a written, word-for-word document detailing what was said in a court proceeding, like a trial or other legal conversation, such as an oral deposition or a hearing.
Evidence
This is the information provided in documents or testimony to convince the judge or jury to decide a matter in favor of one of the parties involved in the case.
Brief
This is a written statement presented in a trial by an attorney to any party involved in a case explaining their factual arguments supporting their client. Its purpose in an appellate proceeding is to persuade the higher court to reverse or uphold the lower (trial) court's decision.
Complaint
This is a written statement by a plaintiff detailing their claims against the defendant in a civil lawsuit. Typically, a civil case starts with a complaint filed with the appropriate court.
Indictment
This is a formal charge stating that enough evidence exists to justify arraigning the defendant in a criminal case trial.
Most court records are public in Nebraska and may be accessed by interested persons per the state's Public Records Laws. Nonetheless, certain court records in the state are sealed, while others are exempted by law from public disclosure. These records are not publicly available for inspection or copying and may only be accessed by authorized individuals or entities.
Types of Court Cases
Most lawsuits filed in Nebraska courts are broadly categorized as civil or criminal cases.
Civil Cases
In Nebraska, civil cases are legal matters in which private individuals, entities, and governmental bodies take each other to court to resolve non-criminal-related issues. Typically, a judge's or jury's decision in any civil case is based on preponderance of the evidence. In other words, if a party wins in a civil matter, it means the evidence they presented was more convincing than the other party's. It does not necessarily mean that the winning party provided more evidence than the other party. In other cases, a jury or judge may reach their decision in a civil matter based on clear and convincing evidence. This implies that a person has to prove that their version of the facts is highly probable or considerably more likely than not.
Civil cases in Nebraska may involve personal or property rights, and common examples include contract disputes, divorces, adoptions, personal/auto accidents, and probates. Others are landlord-tenant disputes, guardianships, breach of warranty and consumer goods, small claims cases, and professional liability suites.
Criminal Cases
Criminal cases in Nebraska are lawsuits filed by the state against individuals or groups of persons accused of breaking the law or committing a crime. No other person or entity but the state can bring a criminal lawsuit against someone. Typically, a representative of the state initiates charges against the defendants in criminal cases, as criminal offenses are considered acts against the people of the state. A defendant is presumed innocent in a criminal case until the state can prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before the judge or jury. This means that the burden of proof is on the government.
Criminal offenses prosecuted by the government in Nebraska are broadly categorized as misdemeanors and felonies. Common examples are robbery, murder, theft, sexual assault, arson, aggravated assault, burglary, and manslaughter. Depending on the type and severity, any defendant found guilty in a criminal case in the state faces certain sentences, which may include incarceration, fines, probation (administrative or supervised), or a combination of the three. Due to the severe consequences of a guilty verdict in Nebraska criminal cases, the state provides defendants with some constitutional rights. The most common of these rights is the right to a court-appointed attorney if they cannot afford a lawyer.
What Are the Different Courts in Nebraska?
Nebraska has a unified two-tier state court system, with a Supreme Court and Court of Appeals above a District Court and a County Court in each of its 93 counties, plus separate juvenile courts and a statewide Workers' Compensation Court. State general fund spending on court operations and judges' salaries is an estimated $81 million a year, with additional funding for probation.
| Court Level | Court Name | Jurisdiction | Key Functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appellate | Supreme Court | Statewide; seven justices | Hears appeals from District Courts, mandatory capital cases and constitutional challenges, and oversees the state court system and legal profession |
| Appellate | Court of Appeals | Statewide; six judges sitting in panels of three | Hears most appeals from District Courts and Separate Juvenile Courts and from some county court matters |
| General Jurisdiction | District Courts | 12 judicial districts serving all 93 counties | Hear felonies, civil cases above county court limits, domestic relations, equity matters and appeals from County Courts |
| Limited Jurisdiction | County Courts | 93 counties in 12 judicial districts | Handle misdemeanors, traffic, preliminary felony matters, civil and small claims cases, probate, guardianships and juvenile matters outside the three largest counties |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Separate Juvenile Courts | Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy counties | Handle juvenile delinquency, status offense and abuse and neglect cases, and some adoption cases |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Workers' Compensation Court | Statewide; seven judges | Resolves disputes over workers' compensation benefits and administers the workers' compensation system |
How Many Federal Courts Are in Nebraska?
Nebraska's only federal district court is the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. The court is served by three judges who are nominated by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by the United States Senate. The U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska has jurisdiction over cases of federal question. These are cases involving federal statutes and the United States Constitution.
Similarly, cases that are based on state law may be heard in the federal court in Nebraska under diversity jurisdiction. In such legal matters, plaintiffs from other states can file lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska if the defendant lives in Nebraska and the amount in controversy is more than $75,000. Typically, decisions made by the federal district court in Nebraska may be appealed to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
How Many Court Cases Are Filed Each Year in Nebraska?
Nebraska's County, District and Separate Juvenile Courts received about 326,000 new cases in fiscal year 2026, with civil, traffic and criminal matters accounting for most of them. Clearance rates are estimated because the state publishes filings but not disposition totals.
| Case Type | Annual Filings | % of Total | Common Offense/Subtype | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic | 99,817 | 30.6% | Speeding, stop sign and other moving violations and equipment offenses | ~100% |
| Criminal | 77,777 | 23.8% | Misdemeanors such as assault, theft and DUI, plus felony cases filed in County Court | ~98% |
| Civil | 108,230 | 33.2% | Collections, contract and property disputes, evictions and general civil cases | ~95% |
| Small Claims | 2,902 | 0.9% | Money claims filed in County Court small claims divisions | ~100% |
| Domestic Relations | 10,801 | 3.3% | Divorce, custody, parenting time and child support | ~98% |
| Juvenile | 8,015 | 2.5% | Delinquency, status offense and abuse and neglect cases | ~100% |
| Other | 18,736 | 5.7% | Protection orders, probate, guardianship, conservatorship and adoption | ~100% |
| Total | 326,278 | 100% | — | ~99% |
How Do I Look Up Court Cases in Nebraska?
The custodians of court records in Nebraska are the individual clerks of court in each court within the state. They are responsible for maintaining and disseminating public court records to interested persons upon request. Typically, a person may look up publicly available Nebraska court records or court cases online, by mail, or in person.
The JUSTICE Court Case Search System (JCCS), an online portal managed by the Nebraska Judicial Branch, allows the public to find information on court cases within the state. Users may obtain public details on at least 30 cases, and such details will typically include party listings, case details, images of documents filed, information on court costs, and payments made to and by the court. Generally, various civil, criminal, probate, traffic, and certain juvenile cases may be publicly searched on JCCS. Similarly, information on the state's District and County Court records may be accessed online through the Nebraska Judgement Case Search (NJSC). Interested persons can search the NJSC using general case information like the case type, date of judgment, and the county where the case was filed or heard.
While looking up Nebraska court cases or records online is more convenient and faster, sometimes, certain case information or records may not be available online. In such circumstances, it is best to contact the clerk of the court that filed the case and ask if the case information or record is available. Such court records or case information may be obtained or accessed in person or by mail once the clerk confirms availability. For mail or in-person requests, requesters must be willing to provide specific details about the cases to facilitate the search.
Number of Active Judges — State & Federal
Nebraska's state judges are chosen through merit selection and the federal district judges are nominated by the President, serving across the appellate, trial, juvenile and workers' compensation courts. State trial court counts are approximate and the federal count reflects sitting judges in 2026.
| Court | Jurisdiction | Active Judges | Selection Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court | Appellate | 7 | Governor appoints from a nominating commission list; retention vote |
| Court of Appeals | Appellate | 6 | Governor appoints from a nominating commission list; retention vote |
| District Courts | General | ~58 | Governor appoints from a nominating commission list; retention vote |
| County Courts | Limited | ~58 | Governor appoints from a nominating commission list; retention vote |
| Separate Juvenile Courts | Limited | 12 | Governor appoints from a nominating commission list; retention vote |
| Workers' Compensation Court | Limited | 7 | Governor appoints from a nominating commission list; retention vote |
| U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska | Federal | 3 | Nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate |
| Total Active Judges | — | ~151 | — |
What Court Records Are Not Available to the Public in Nebraska?
Not all court records are publicly available in Nebraska. While some records are marked as confidential by statutes and are unavailable for public inspection or copying, others are sealed by court orders. Generally, the following court records are not available for public disclosure in Nebraska:
- Juvenile Court Records - Social welfare reports, psychological reports, medical reports, and psychiatric reports in juvenile court records are permanently confidential. Similarly, case files and records, docket records (other than orders, pleadings, decrees, and judgments), and records and reports of probation officers in juvenile court records are not available to the public.
- Presentence Reports and Presentence Psychiatric Assessments - Any presentence reports and psychiatric examination of an adult convict is a permanently confidential court record under Nebraska law.
- Adoption Case Records - Under Nebraska law, adoption records in court records are permanently confidential records.
- Confidential Communications Between Sexual and Domestic Abuse Victims and Advocates - State law prevents the compelled testimonial disclosure of private communications made by victims of domestic and sexual abuse to their advocates to assist them in getting the help they need without fear that their statement will be available as testimony.
- Witnesses and Victims in Criminal Cases and Parole Proceedings - In Nebraska, victims' contact information in criminal cases is not available for public disclosure after conviction and sentence of the defendant in parole or other similar proceedings.
Average Case Processing Time & Clearance Rates
Processing times in Nebraska range from a few weeks for traffic cases to a year or more for contested civil cases, depending on case type and complexity. Times shown are estimates based on national time-to-disposition benchmarks and Nebraska's court structure.
| Case Type | Court Level | Average Processing Time | Description | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic & Parking | Limited Jurisdiction | ~30–60 days | Most are resolved by payment of a fine or a plea by mail, with contested cases set for a County Court trial | ~100% |
| Small Claims | Limited Jurisdiction | ~2–3 months | Heard in County Court in an informal hearing, usually without attorneys | ~100% |
| Misdemeanor Criminal | Limited Jurisdiction | ~3–6 months | Arraignment, plea negotiations and sentencing in County Court, with fewer cases going to trial | ~98% |
| Civil Cases | General Jurisdiction | ~10–14 months | Pleadings, discovery, motions and settlement or trial in District Court; collection and smaller cases resolve faster in County Court | ~95% |
| Domestic Relations | General Jurisdiction | ~6–10 months | Divorce and custody cases in District Court, most resolved by settlement or default, with contested matters set for trial | ~98% |
| Felony Criminal | General Jurisdiction | ~6–10 months | Preliminary hearing in County Court, then arraignment, plea negotiations and sentencing or trial in District Court | ~98% |