Newly appointed Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke will preside over his inaugural high school court session with the Nebraska Supreme Court at Wahoo High School on November 6, 2024. The event will see the school's Performing Arts Center converted into a courtroom for mid-morning proceedings.
The program is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. with an introductory presentation by attorney Steven Guenzel. He will provide context for the arguments and explain the appellate process. Following this introduction, two court arguments will be presented on stage. Students are encouraged to remain after the arguments for a question-and-answer session with members of the Court.
Students interested in law, social work, political science, or higher education are particularly encouraged to attend. Open to the public, this session offers a unique opportunity to observe the legal system in action and fosters a deeper understanding of the court's role and civics' importance in American society.
High School Mock Trial teams and neighboring schools should contact Wahoo High School Principal Vernon Golladay for reserved seating in the Performing Arts Center.
The cases scheduled for argument include "S-23-1012 State v. Kilmer (20) Cherry County" and "S-23-0940 Main St Properties LLC v. City of Bellevue, Sarpy County."
The Constitution of Nebraska distributes judicial power among various courts including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts, and county courts. All state courts operate under the administrative direction of the Supreme Court. In addition to constitutionally created courts, Nebraska has separate juvenile courts in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties, as well as a statewide Workers’ Compensation Court.