Court Opinion

ID: 9480363
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 07:45:37.166364+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:47:38.126730
License: Public Domain

BEAM, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The majority acknowledges that “[w]e should not substitute our judgment for that of the [Nebraska] legislature in determining what is deemed a serious crime.” Supra at 1205. I agree. Since section 24-536, Nebraska Revised Statutes, makes the charge involved here a petty offense, we are doing just that.
In this case, the Nebraska Supreme Court has also analyzed the penalty (as we have done) within the framework of Blanton v. City of North Las Vegas, 489 U.S. 538, 109 S.Ct. 1289, 103 L.Ed.2d 550 (1989). We disregard the Nebraska court’s conclusions and substitute our own. Applying the test enunciated in Blanton, I believe this to be a petty offense for the purposes of determining the need for a jury trial.
Accordingly, I would affirm the district court’s denial of a writ.