OMAHA — Former State Sen. Justin Wayne announced Wednesday that he would seek election as Douglas County District Court clerk in 2026.

Wayne represented a district in North Omaha for eight years in the Nebraska Legislature, being term limited out in 2024. During that time, he chaired the Urban Affairs and Judiciary Committees and prioritized policies on economic development and criminal justice, particularly within the state’s juvenile court system.

Wayne’s candidacy follows an announcement earlier this week that current District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades was joining the race to be the Democratic nominee in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.

Wayne said he is seeking this office because he has experience he can contribute as a working private attorney, and the duties would allow him to continue helping the community while also allowing him to balance time with his family.

In a campaign press release, Wayne pledged to modernize the clerk’s office, expand public access, and strengthen public confidence in the justice system through transparency, efficiency and accountability.

“Douglas County deserves a clerk who brings both legal experience and a deep understanding of how the justice system affects everyday people,” Wayne said in the release. “As an attorney, former legislator, and lifelong advocate for justice reform, I’ve seen firsthand how critical this office is to ensuring the courts work for everyone.”

The District Court Clerk’s Office manages vital court records, coordinates courtroom operations and communicates with the public. Wayne said his combined legal and legislative background uniquely positions him to strengthen the office and improve service delivery — without increasing costs to taxpayers.

Wayne listed his campaign priorities, including modernizing systems to streamline records, expanding public access to the court, improving staff training and enhancing transparency and responsiveness.

“This office is the nerve center of our justice system,” Wayne said. “Every motion filed, every judgment recorded, every person seeking their day in court depends on the clerk’s office functioning with precision and integrity. When this office runs well, justice is served fairly and efficiently. When it doesn’t, people fall through the cracks.”

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/23/former-omaha-state-senator-annou...