OLL Casino Night Supports Annual Courthouse Tours

Blackjack. Craps. Roulette. And handfuls of paper money and casino chips.

The Livestock Exchange Building played host to the Omaha Law League’s annual Casino Night on Friday, March 6 – the same evening as Nebraska’s first case of coronavirus was announced, a last hurrah before similar fundraisers began to be canceled en masse.

Along with hors d’oeuvres and open bar, the OLL event included a wine pull and silent auction with several items on which to bid, including four one-way vouchers for Southwest Airlines. A raffle was held every half hour and the tables stayed busy throughout the evening.

The Casino Night raises funds for the Omaha Law League’s signature project: transportation for tours of the Douglas County Courthouse by fourth-graders.

Each November, fourth-graders from private and public schools travel by bus to the courthouse. Each bus costs $150 to rent and carries 35 students. Douglas County Court Judge Marcela Keim said that over 1,000 students visit each year.

Local bar and government officers provide guided tours.

“The tours are an hour and a half with tours of the buildings and 30 minutes one-on-one with a judge,” Keim said.

Each tour has several members of the judiciary visit with students to answer their questions.

Keim said the students sit in the court room, wear a judge’s robe and sit in the jury box.

At the Casino Night event, Keim presented a service award to Kathy Knickrehm.

“(For several) years we have given a service award to one of our members that has gone above and beyond over the years to support the mission of the law leagues and gives their undying support, time and energy to our project,” Keim said. “This year we unanimously voted for Kathy Knickrehm to receive the award today. She’s been with the Law League 20 years, she’s one of my dearest friends and we couldn’t do it without her.”

Find more about OLL at facebook.com/Omahalawleague.