Legal News

True Crime Entertainment Like The Teacher’s Pet Can Shine A Light On Cold Cases - But Does It Help Or Hinder Justice Being Served?

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 09/09/2022 - 2:00am

Listeners of the true crime podcast Teacher’s Pet were vindicated last Tuesday when 74-year-old Chris Dawson was found guilty of murdering his wife Lynette in Sydney nearly 40 years ago.

Dawson was convicted based on overwhelming circumstantial evidence in a judge-only trial.

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Nebraska State Bar Association Receives 2022 ABA Harrison Tweed Award

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 09/02/2022 - 5:00am

Named for an outstanding leader in the promotion of free legal services to the poor, the Harrison Tweed Award was created in 1956 to recognize the extraordinary achievements of state and local bar associations that develop or significantly expand projects or programs to increase access to civil legal services to persons living in poverty or criminal defense services to indigents. The Nebraska State Bar Association (NSBA) was nominated for its work coordinating the Tenant Assistance Project and expansion of that progr

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As Teens Wait For Work, Ag Firms Turn To Guest Workers To Tend To Midwest Cornfields

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 09/02/2022 - 4:00am

Lynn Lief’s family ran a detasseling business for over 40 years in southeast Nebraska. At its height, Lief’s business employed up to 500 area teenagers and detasseled nearly 2,700 acres for Syngenta and Bayer. (Courtesy Lynn Lief)

Over time, Lynn Lief found herself with less and less work to offer to teenagers.

For more than 40 years, Lief and her family employed up to 500 middle and high schoolers to detassel corn in July and August. Based in York, Nebraska, she ran buses to pick up teens in neighboring Seward and all the way to Lincoln one hour away.

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ABA Joins NASS And NASED To Continue To Mobilize Lawyers As Poll Workers For Upcoming Elections

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 09/02/2022 - 2:00am

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2022 — The American Bar Association is collaborating with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) to once again issue a call aimed at mobilizing lawyers to assist as poll workers for the upcoming 2022 election. The Poll Worker, Esq. Initiative encourages lawyers, law students and other legal professionals to assist in upcoming elections by serving as poll workers.

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Nebraska Board Of Pardons Will Hear Earnest Jackson’s Case On Sept. 19

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 09/02/2022 - 1:00am

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Board of Pardons meeting Sept. 19 may be another opportunity for freedom for Earnest Jackson.

Jackson, 40, has served more than 20 years at the Nebraska State Penitentiary after being convicted of first-degree murder. Jackson went through two trials and will not be eligible for parole until 2029 — all for a killing that another man has confessed to.

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Fighting Crime Like Batman With A Bad Back

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 08/26/2022 - 5:00am

Chris McMahon isn’t your typical Deputy County Attorney. He recently graduated from law school and became a Deputy County Attorney. But he didn’t begin pursuing his law degree at Creighton University until he was 45 years old – a couple of decades after graduating with his bachelors’ degree from Midlands University. He jokes that he’s a long-term planner.

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Dreams Do Come True For Katie Benson

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 08/26/2022 - 4:30am

On August 12th, Katie Benson, who was appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts in June, was officially sworn in and robed as the newest judge for the Fourth Judicial District (Douglas County). With many family members, friends, previous employers, other judges, and even Mayor Stothert in attendance, there were many tears of joy and laughter as several people spoke on behalf of Katie.

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Department Of Justice Announces The Opening Of Nominations For The Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award For Distinguished Service In Community Policing

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 08/26/2022 - 3:01am

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the Department of Justice is now accepting nominations for the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. Through this award, the Department of Justice honors the incredible work our nation’s law enforcement does to keep our communities and our country safe.

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National Institute Of Justice Funds Research To Address Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Justice System

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 08/26/2022 - 3:00am

WASHINGTON— The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice today announced an investment of $2.7 million to perform rigorous research that furthers the Department of Justice’s mission to increase knowledge about the connections between race, crime, violence and the administration of justice in the United States. The W.E.B.

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Over 200 Sit For July Bar Exam

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 08/26/2022 - 2:01am

A large group of law students (205) sat for the Nebraska State Bar Exam on July 26 and 27, 2022. Supporting the biggest group of test-takers in recent years were 27 volunteers helping to check-in individuals and serve as test proctors. Testing was held at the Cornhusker Marriott in downtown Lincoln where nurses from the Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Department screened examinees to ensure a safe test environment.