Legal News

Beyond the Courtroom: How Offutt’s JAG Team Balances Justice, Readiness, and Service

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

A JAG tradition is painting tiles with each of the office’s sections. At Offutt, servicemembers went a step further and honored General Curtis LeMay, the first commander of the Strategic Air Command, whose office was in the building. His ghost is rumored to haunt the building, with people reporting faint aroma of LeMay’s cigar.
(Tim Trudell / The Daily Record)

“A Few Good Men” is like a classic wine, aging well over the years. However, the hit movie about military lawyers falls short of reality, say actual lawyers with the Judge Advocate Group at Offutt Air Force Base. Especially, a classic scene depicting a junior officer’s challenge of a senior ranking official. The lawyer was warned he could face court-martial for challenging the colonel. Nothing could be farther from truth in reality, says Offutt’s JAG commander.

Read more about Beyond the Courtroom: How Offutt’s JAG Team Balances Justice, Readiness, and Service

Law Day Essay Contest - For 8th Graders

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

The Law Day Essay Contest is open to all Omaha area 8th graders, and Nebraska Court Reporters Association coordinated the judging of the essays . Essays are limited to 250 words, and shall discuss the 2025 Law Day Theme of "Out of Many, One." The winning essay will be published in the OBA Newsletter, online, and in The Daily Record newspaper. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will receive cash prizes from the Omaha Bar Association.

Read more about Law Day Essay Contest - For 8th Graders

Law Day Poster Contest - For 5th Graders

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

First Place Winner: Iris Clements
Our Lady of Lourdes
(Mrs. Kowskie)

Read more about Law Day Poster Contest - For 5th Graders

Interviews With Jennifer Gaughan, Angela Lennon, Dagmar Myslinska, Andrew Wilson, G. Michael Fenner

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

We are a nation of laws. Truth, justice and the American way have long been ingrained into our collective consciousness and daily life.

Our inalienable rights – emphasizing liberty and human dignity – bestowed upon us by our Founding Fathers, the framers of our Constitution, drafting the laws of our land, as a rebuke to authoritarian rule, henceforth safeguarding our civil liberties for generations to come.

Read more about Interviews With Jennifer Gaughan, Angela Lennon, Dagmar Myslinska, Andrew Wilson, G. Michael Fenner

Alfred G. Ellick Lawyer Referral Service Award

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

Molly and Jake Steinkemper

Steinkemper Law

Read more about Alfred G. Ellick Lawyer Referral Service Award

Robert M. Spire Public Service Award:

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

Lauren Micek Vargas
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder
(Courtesy of Education Rights Counsel)

A Chicago study of 13,000 students by David Kerbow found that the more elementary students change schools, the more they fall behind academically; four or more times is equivalent to being a grade behind. The Education Rights Counsel works to ensure that students can remain in their same school, among plenty of other noble pursuits.

Read more about Robert M. Spire Public Service Award:

Laurie Smith Camp Integrity Award:

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

Meeting a judge is scary, right? For someone who doesn't practice law, I may have been a bit nervous before the interview. However, upon being led to Judge Vernon Daniels’ office, I came upon a scene of him playing with his grandson. Cartoons were being played on a TV, and stuffed animals took up much of the space of his desk, and he rose to greet me. Much of my trepidation melted away, for the first thing I saw of him was kindness.

Read more about Laurie Smith Camp Integrity Award:

Judge Allows Charges To Proceed Against Nebraska Notary For Medical Cannabis Petitions

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 04/25/2025 - 7:00am

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana celebrate turn-in day for 114,000 signatures the group gathered across two petitions to legalize and regulate medical marijuana, July 3, 2024.
(Courtesy of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign)

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — The District Court of Hall County decided Tuesday to allow criminal charges against a notary public for “official misconduct” to proceed, overturning a lower court decision.

Read more about Judge Allows Charges To Proceed Against Nebraska Notary For Medical Cannabis Petitions

The Trump Administration’s War On Children

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 04/25/2025 - 5:00am

Victims and survivors of abused and neglected youth at residential treatment facilities (RTFs) and advocates, hold a news conference on the need for Congress to act to protect children and reform RTFs, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(Mariam Zuhaib / AP Photo)

The Trump Administration’s War on Children

by Eli Hager

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

Read more about The Trump Administration’s War On Children

Palestinian Student Remains Detained In Vermont With A Hearing Set For Next Week

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 04/25/2025 - 4:00am

Protesters gather outside federal court ahead of a hearing for Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man arrested at a Vermont immigration office during an interview about finalizing his U.S. citizenship and a legal permanent resident who led protests against the war in Gaza at Columbia University, Wednesday, April 23, 2025 in Burlington, Vt.
(Amanda Swinhart / AP Photo)

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A large crowd of supporters and advocates gathered outside a Vermont courthouse Wednesday to support a Palestinian man who led protests against the war in Gaza as a student at Columbia University and was arrested during an interview about finalizing his U.S. citizenship.