Nebraska Supreme Court
Lincoln · A court of last resort in Nebraska.
The Nebraska Supreme Court is the highest court in Nebraska. Its justices are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a nominating commission, followed by retention elections. This page lists every justice to serve on the court, current and former, with when they joined the bench and whom they succeeded.
Current bench verified against the court’s official roster, 2026-07-02.
Current justices
- Chief JusticeJeffrey J. Funke
- William B. Cassel
- Stephanie F. Stacy
- John R. Freudenberg
- Jonathan J. Papik
- Jason M. Bergevin
- Derek R. Vaughn
Former justices
| Justice | Years |
|---|---|
| Michael Heavican | 2006 |
| Lindsey Miller-Lerman | 1999 |
| John V. Hendry | 1998–2006 |
| Michael McCormack | 1997 |
| Kenneth C. Stephan | 1997 |
| John Melvin Gerrard | 1995–2012 |
| William M. Connolly | 1994 |
| John F. Wright | 1994 |
| David J. Lanphier | 1993–1996 |
| Dale E. Fahrnbruch | 1987–1996 |
| John T. Grant | 1983–1993 |
| Thomas Michael Shanahan | 1983–1993 |
| D Nick Caporale | 1982–1998 |
| William C. Hastings | 1979–1995 |
| Norman Krivosha | 1978–1987 |
| C Thomas White | 1977–1998 |
| Donald Brodkey | 1974–1982 |
| Lawrence M. Clinton | 1971–1982 |
| John E. Newton | 1967–1977 |
| Hale McCown | 1965–1983 |
| Robert L. Smith | 1964–1973 |
| Leslie Boslaugh | 1962–1994 |
| Paul W. White | 1962–1978 |
| Robert C. Brower | 1961–1967 |
| Harry A. Spencer | 1961–1978 |
| Peter E. Boslaugh | 1949–1961 |
| Elwood B. Chappell | 1943–1961 |
| Adolph E. Wenke | 1943–1961 |
| John W. Yeager | 1940–1965 |
| Harvey M. Johnsen | 1938–1940 |
| Robert G. Simmons | 1938–1963 |
| Frederick W. Messmore | 1937–1965 |
| Edward F. Carter | 1935–1971 |
| Bayard H. Paine | 1931–1949 |
| George Agler Eberly | 1925–1943 |
| William B. Rose | 1909–1943 |
How a justice reaches this court. Justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court are appointed by the governor to 6-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. Missouri Plan: a judicial nominating commission sends names to the governor, who appoints; the first retention vote is three years after appointment, then every six years. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any justice to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.
Source: Current roster: Nebraska Judicial Branch — Supreme Court Justices directory and CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data as of 2026-07-02 (official roster); historical bench 2026-03-31 (CourtListener bulk snapshot). Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).