The Nebraska Supreme Court has appointed Gene Cotter as the new State Probation Administrator. Cotter will be the seventh person to hold this position in 66 years, overseeing juvenile and adult probation services across Nebraska. His appointment takes effect on February 1, 2025.
Cotter's career in Nebraska Probation spans 34 years, most recently serving as Deputy Administrator for Operations. In this role, he managed statewide communications, interstate compact agreements, personnel matters, probation performance management, and research data.
He began his career as a probation officer in the 12th Judicial District of Nebraska's panhandle and later served as a supervision officer for juveniles and adults in southeastern Nebraska. Cotter played a key role in developing one of the state's first Reporting Centers and a Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision Program in Lincoln.
From 2009 to 2014, Cotter was Chief Probation Officer of Lancaster County Adult Probation Office before moving to the Administrative Office. There he held various interim roles and served as Assistant Deputy Probation Administrator for Adult Programs and Services.
Cotter holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska and a master's degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha. He is also involved with the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) Board of Directors.
The Office of Probation Administration provides central management for probation services aimed at enhancing public safety and rehabilitation under community supervision. The judicial power in Nebraska is distributed among several courts under the administrative direction of the Supreme Court.