# United States District Court for the District of Nebraska

The United States District Court for the District of Nebraska (in case citations, D. Neb.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Nebraska. Court offices are in Omaha and Lincoln.
Appeals from the District of Nebraska are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of August 17, 2024, the United States attorney is Susan T. Lehr, beginning on July 1, 2023.

## Notable case

In May 2005, Judge Joseph Bataillon struck down a constitutional amendment passed by Nebraska voters in 2000 that would have banned gay marriages. That decision, however, was reversed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. In its opinion issued on July 14, 2006, the Eighth Circuit held: the amendment rationally related to legitimate state interests, and therefore did not violate the Equal Protection Clause; the amendment could not be considered a bill of attainder; the amendment did not violate homosexuals' First Amendment right to associate; and the amendment did not violate homosexuals' First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.

## Current judges

As of January 17, 2025:
| # | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Term of service | Term of service | Appointed by |
| # | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Active | Chief | Senior | Appointed by |
| 22 | Chief Judge | Robert F. Rossiter Jr. | Omaha | 1956 | 2016–present | 2021–present | — | Obama |
| 23 | District Judge | Brian C. Buescher | Omaha | 1975 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
| 24 | District Judge | Susan M. Bazis | Lincoln | 1968 | 2024–present | — | — | Biden |
| 19 | Senior Judge | Joseph Bataillon | Omaha | 1949 | 1997–2014 | 2004–2011 | 2014–present | Clinton |
| 21 | Senior Judge | John M. Gerrard | Lincoln | 1953 | 2012–2023 | 2018–2021 | 2023–present | Obama |

## Former judges

| # | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
| 1 | Elmer Scipio Dundy | NE | 1830–1896 | 1868–1896 | — | — | A. Johnson | death |
| 2 | William Douglas McHugh | NE | 1859–1923 | 1896–1897 | — | — | Cleveland | not confirmed |
| 3 | William Henry Munger | NE | 1845–1915 | 1897–1915 | — | — | Cleveland | death |
| 4 | Thomas Charles Munger | NE | 1861–1941 | 1907–1941 | — | 1941 | T. Roosevelt | death |
| 5 | Joseph William Woodrough | NE | 1873–1977 | 1916–1933 | — | — | Wilson | elevation to 8th Cir. |
| 6 | James A. Donohoe | NE | 1877–1956 | 1933–1956 | 1948–1956 | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 7 | John Wayne Delehant | NE | 1890–1972 | 1942–1957 | 1956–1957 | 1957–1972 | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 8 | Richard Earl Robinson | NE | 1903–1991 | 1956–1972 | 1957–1972 | 1972–1991 | Eisenhower | death |
| 9 | Robert Van Pelt | NE | 1897–1988 | 1957–1970 | — | 1970–1988 | Eisenhower | death |
| 10 | Warren Keith Urbom | NE | 1925–2017 | 1970–1990 | 1972–1986 | 1990–2017 | Nixon | death |
| 11 | Robert Vernon Denney | NE | 1916–1981 | 1971–1981 | — | 1981 | Nixon | death |
| 12 | Richard A. Dier | NE | 1914–1972 | 1971–1972 | — | — | Nixon | death |
| 13 | Albert Gerard Schatz | NE | 1921–1985 | 1973–1985 | — | — | Nixon | death |
| 14 | C. Arlen Beam | NE | 1930–present | 1981–1987 | 1986–1987 | — | Reagan | elevation to 8th Cir. |
| 15 | Lyle Elmer Strom | NE | 1925–2023 | 1985–1995 | 1987–1994 | 1995–2023 | Reagan | death |
| 16 | William G. Cambridge | NE | 1931–2004 | 1988–2000 | 1994–1999 | — | Reagan | retirement |
| 17 | Richard G. Kopf | NE | 1946–2025 | 1992–2011 | 1999–2004 | 2011–2025 | G.H.W. Bush | death |
| 18 | Thomas Michael Shanahan | NE | 1934–2011 | 1993–2004 | — | 2004–2011 | Clinton | death |
| 20 | Laurie Smith Camp | NE | 1953–2020 | 2001–2018 | 2011–2018 | 2018–2020 | G.W. Bush | death |
* ↑ Recess appointment; the United States Senate later rejected the appointment.

## Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.
A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

## Succession of seats

Seat 1 :
| Seat established on March 25, 1867 by 15 Stat. 5 ||||
| Dundy | 1868–1896 |
| McHugh | 1896–1897 |
| W. Munger | 1897–1915 |
| Woodrough | 1916–1933 |
| Donohoe | 1933–1956 |
| Robinson | 1956–1972 |
| Dier | 1971–1972 |
| Schatz | 1973–1985 |
| Strom | 1985–1995 |
| Bataillon | 1997–2014 |
| Rossiter, Jr. | 2016–present |
Seat 2 :
| Seat established on February 27, 1907 by 34 Stat. 997 ||||
| T. Munger | 1907–1941 |
| Delehant | 1942–1957 |
| Van Pelt | 1957–1970 |
| Urbom | 1970–1990 |
| Kopf | 1992–2011 |
| Gerrard | 2012–2023 |
| Bazis | 2024–present |
Seat 3 :
| Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 ||||
| Denney | 1971–1981 |
| Beam | 1981–1987 |
| Cambridge | 1988–2000 |
| Smith Camp | 2001–2018 |
| Buescher | 2019–present |
Seat 4 :
| Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 (temporary) ||
| Shanahan | 1993–2004 |
| Seat abolished on May 5, 2004 (temporary judgeship expired) ||