Workers' Compensation Act is essential to the prosperity and well-being of the state, and (3) suitable laws should be enacted for the establishing and for the preservation of such an administration of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act, there is hereby created, pursuant to the provisions of Article V, section 1, of the Nebraska Constitution, a court, consisting of seven judges, to be selected or retained in office in accordance with the provisions of Article V, section 21, of the Nebraska Constitution and to be known as the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court, which court shall have authority to administer and enforce all of the provisions of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act, and any amendments thereof, except such as are committed to the courts of appellate jurisdiction or as otherwise provided by law.

for each county or with one judge for two or more counties, as the Legislature shall provide, and such other courts inferior to the Supreme Court as may be created by law. In accordance with rules established by the Supreme Court and not in conflict with other provisions of this Constitution and laws governing such matters, general administrative authority over all courts in this state shall be vested in the Supreme Court and shall be exercised by the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice shall be the executive head of the courts and may appoint an administrative director thereof.

of the members sitting shall have authority to pronounce a decision except in cases involving the constitutionality of an act of the Legislature. No legislative act shall be held unconstitutional except by the concurrence of five judges. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction in all cases relating to the revenue, civil cases in which the state is a party, mandamus, quo warrantor, habeas corpus, election contests involving state officers other than members of the Legislature, and such appellate jurisdiction as may be provided by law. The Legislature may provide that any judge of the Supreme Court or judge of the appellate court created pursuant to Article V, section 1, of this Constitution who has retired may be called upon for temporary duty by the Supreme Court. Whenever necessary for the prompt submission and determination of causes, the Supreme Court may appoint judges of the district court or the appellate court to act as associate judges of the Supreme Court, sufficient in number, with the judges of the Supreme Court, to constitute two divisions of the court of five judges in each division. Whenever judges of the district court or the appellate court are so acting, the court shall sit in two divisions, and four of the judges thereof shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. Judges of the district court or the appellate court so appointed shall serve during the pleasure of the court and shall have all the powers of judges of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice shall make assignments of judges to the divisions of the court, preside over the division of which he or she is a member, and designate the presiding judge of the other division. The judges of the Supreme Court, sitting without division, shall hear and determine all cases involving the constitutionality of a statute and all appeals involving capital cases and may review any decision rendered by a division of the court. In such cases, in the event of the disability or disqualification by interest or otherwise of any of the judges of the Supreme Court, the court may appoint judges of the district court or the appellate court to sit temporarily as judges of the Supreme Court, sufficient to constitute a full court of seven judges. Judges of the district court or the appellate court shall receive no additional salary by virtue of their appointment and service as herein provided, but they shall be reimbursed their necessary traveling and hotel expenses.

for each county or with one judge for two or more counties, as the Legislature shall provide, and such other courts inferior to the Supreme Court as may be created by law. In accordance with rules established by the Supreme Court and not in conflict with other provisions of this Constitution and laws governing such matters, general administrative authority over all courts in this state shall be vested in the Supreme Court and shall be exercised by the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice shall be the executive head of the courts and may appoint an administrative director thereof.

court. The decision of a majority of the judges of the panel to which a case is submitted shall constitute the decision of the court for that case. The membership of the panels shall be assigned and regularly rotated by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals in such a manner as to provide each judge the opportunity to serve a proportionate amount of time with every other judge on the court.(

2) One judge of the Court of Appeals shall be appointed by the Governor from each Supreme Court judicial district. For purposes of this section, a judge's residence on the effective date of appointment shall be considered the judge's residence while he or she serves on the Court of Appeals. Prior to September 13, 1997, the Supreme Court shall each year select one judge of the Court of Appeals as Chief Judge. Upon the expiration of the term of the Chief Judge in office on September 13, 1997, and each two years thereafter, the judges of the Court of Appeals shall by majority vote nominate one of their number to be Chief Judge for the ensuing two years, which judge shall, upon the ratification of the selection by the Supreme Court, serve as Chief Judge for that two-year period.

(3) Judges of the Court of Appeals shall be paid an amount equal to ninety-five percent of the salary set for the Chief Justice and judges of the Supreme Court. '

(4) Judges of the Court of Appeals shall be subject to the same provisions relating to selection, filling of a vacancy, term of office, discipline, removal from office, and retirement as are all other judges covered by Article V of the Constitution of Nebraska.

shall remain as now fixed. The judges of the district courts shall be selected from the respective districts as provided in this Article V.

for each county or with one judge for two or more counties, as the Legislature shall provide, and such other courts inferior to the Supreme Court as may be created by law. In accordance with rules established by the Supreme Court and not in conflict with other provisions of this Constitution and laws governing such matters, general administrative authority over all courts in this state shall be vested in the Supreme Court and shall be exercised by the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice shall be the executive head of the courts and may appoint an administrative director thereof.

seat.

law.

remedial writs necessary to properly exercise jurisdiction in cases assigned to them. The panels of the temporary court of appeals are subject to administration by the supreme court pursuant to sections 3 and 8 of article VI of the Constitution of North Dakota.

each county are abolished. 2. District court judgeships are established on January 2, 1995, in number equal to the number of county judges serving the county courts on January 1, 1991, or the number of county judges serving the county courts on January 1, 1994, whichever is the lesser number. . . . All statutes relating to the district court apply to the district court judgeships established pursuant to this subsection, except as otherwise provided by this section. 3. The supreme court shall designate by rule, prior to January 1, 1994, the judicial district for each additional district court judgeship established pursuant to subsection 2. The judicial district designated by the supreme court for each district court judgeship established pursuant to subsection 2 is the area of election for that office at the general election in 1994. . . .

county in the state. The supreme court may provide such services through clerks of district court, deputies, and assistants who are employees of the judicial system or through service agreements under subsection 6. The supreme court shall develop standards and procedures to ensure that adequate clerk of district court services are provided. “Clerk of district court services” means those duties and services, as provided by statute or rule of the supreme court, that directly serve the judicial system and the provision of effective and efficient judicial services to the public. Beginning January 1, 2003, the individual designated by a board of county commissioners to provide clerk of district court services under subsection 2 or 6 serves as ex officio clerk of district court. The salary and bond for the ex officio clerk of district court must be fixed by a resolution adopted by the board of county commissioners.2. A county may elect to provide clerk of district court services at the county's own expense. The board of county commissioners shall forward to the supreme court a resolution indicating its election to provide services under this subsection. Such services must be provided in a manner consistent with standards and procedures established by the supreme court. If the county is unable to provide adequate clerk of district court services, the supreme court shall provide for those services in any manner it considers appropriate. If a county has entered into an agreement under subsection 6, the county may not provide clerk of district court services under this subsection until after the agreement has expired.3. In a county in which the supreme court determines that at least five full-time employees are necessary to provide adequate clerk of district court services, the elected clerk of district court and clerk of court staff designated by the supreme court shall become employees of the state judicial system if the board of county commissioners consents to the transition after consultation with the elected clerk. This subsection applies upon receipt by the supreme court of a resolution adopted by the board of county commissioners indicating its consent. Any equipment, including technology-related equipment, and furnishings in the control and custody of the clerk of district court on the date the clerk becomes a state employee must remain in the control and custody of the clerk until the state court administrator determines the items are no longer needed. The clerk, upon becoming a state employee, shall receive a salary in an amount not less than the salary received as a county employee and shall remain an employee of the state judicial system until the clerk retires, resigns, or the term for which the clerk was initially elected expires, whichever occurs earlier. Thereafter, the clerk of district court must be appointed in the manner provided by supreme court rule. If the board of county commissioners does not consent to the clerk and designated staff becoming employees of the state judicial system, the county must provide clerk of district court services at its own expense in accordance with subsection 2.4. In a county in which the supreme court determines that one or more, but less than five, full-time employees are necessary to provide clerk of district court services, the elected clerk of district court and clerk of court staff designated by the supreme court shall become employees of the state judicial system in the manner described in subsection 3. If the board of county commissioners does not consent to the clerk and designated staff becoming employees of the state judicial system, the county may provide clerk of district court services at its own expense under subsection 2 or the supreme court may provide funding for clerk of district court services in accordance with an agreement under subsection 6.5. In a county in which the supreme court determines that less than one full-time employee is necessary to provide clerk of district court services, the supreme court may provide funding for such services in accordance with an agreement under subsection 6.6. The supreme court may enter into an agreement with one or more boards of county commissioners to provide funding for the provision of clerk of district court services in a manner consistent with standards and procedures established by the supreme court. Funding for personnel under the agreement must be equal to the amount, based on county employee compensation levels, necessary for the number of full-time employees needed to provide clerk of district court services. Funding must be available under the agreement to defray the cost of technology-related equipment considered necessary by the supreme court for the delivery of adequate clerk of district court services. After entering into an agreement under this subsection, a county may, under chapter 11-10.2 or 11-10.3, provide for the delivery of clerk of district court services in a manner consistent with the agreement. If a county fails to fulfill the terms of an agreement or is unable to provide clerk of district court services consistent with standards and procedures established by the supreme court, the supreme court shall provide for those services in any manner it considers appropriate.

Commissioners Courts, in Courts of Justices of the Peace, and in such other courts as may be provided by law.

The Legislature may establish such other courts as it may deem necessary and prescribe the jurisdiction and organization thereof, and may conform the jurisdiction of the district and other inferior courts thereto.

elected by the voters of the State for a term of twelve years, unless sooner removed or retired as authorized in this article. The legislature may prescribe by law whether the election of such justices is to be on a partisan or nonpartisan basis.

Provision shall be made by rules of the supreme court of appeals for the selection of a member of the court to serve as chief justice thereof. If the chief justice is temporarily disqualified or unable to serve, one of the justices of the court designated in accordance with the rules of the court shall serve temporarily in his stead.

When any justice is temporarily disqualified or unable to serve, the chief justice may assign a judge of a circuit court or of an intermediate appellate court to serve from time to time in his stead.

as shall be hereafter established by the legislature, and in the justices, judges and magistrates of such courts.

in this article. The legislature may prescribe by law whether the election of such judges is to be on a partisan or nonpartisan basis. Upon the effective date of this article, each statutory court of record of limited jurisdiction existing in the State immediately prior to such effective date shall become part of the circuit court for the circuit in which it presently exists, and each such judge of such statutory court of record of limited jurisdiction shall thereupon become a judge of such circuit court. During his continuance in office, a judge of a circuit court shall reside in the circuit of which he is a judge.

The legislature may increase, or other than during term of office decrease, the number of circuit judges within any circuit. The judicial circuits in existence on the effective date of this article shall remain as so constituted until changed by law, and the legislature, at any session thereof held in the odd-numbered year next preceding the time for the full term election of the judges thereof, may rearrange the circuits and may increase or diminish the number of circuits. A judge of a circuit court in office at the time of any such change shall continue as a judge of the circuit in which he shall continue to reside after such change until his term shall expire, unless sooner removed or retired as authorized in this article.

There shall be at least one judge for each circuit court and as many more as may be necessary to transact the business of such court. If there be two or more judges of a circuit court, provision shall be made by rules of such circuit court for the selection of one of such judges to serve as chief judge thereof. If the chief judge is temporarily disqualified or unable to serve, one of the judges of the circuit court designated in accordance with the rules of such court shall serve temporarily in his stead.

The supreme court of appeals shall provide for dividing the business of those circuits in which there shall be more than one judge between the judges thereof so as to promote and secure the convenient and expeditious transaction of such business.

In every county in the State the circuit court for such county shall sit at least three times in each year. The supreme court of appeals shall designate the times at which each circuit court shall sit, but until this action is taken by the supreme court of appeals, each circuit court shall sit at the times prescribed by law. If there be two or more judges of a circuit court, such judges may hold court in the same county or in different counties within the circuit at the same time or at different times.

of such courts. Such courts shall have jurisdiction to enforce municipal ordinances, with the right of appeal as prescribed by law. Until otherwise provided by law, all such courts heretofore established shall remain and continue as now constituted, and with the same right of appeal, insofar as their jurisdiction to enforce municipal ordinances is concerned; but on and after January one, one thousand nine hundred seventy-seven, any other jurisdiction now exercised by such courts shall cease. No judge of a municipal, police or mayor’s court or any officer thereof shall be compensated for his services on a fee basis or receive to his own use for his services any pecuniary compensation, reward or benefit other than the salary prescribed therefor.

prescribed by law.

The legislature shall determine the qualifications and the number of magistrates for each such court to be elected by the voters of the county, and the legislature may prescribe by law whether the election of such magistrates is to be on a partisan or nonpartisan basis: Provided, that any person in office as a justice of the peace of this State on the effective date of this article and who has served as a justice of the peace of this State for at least one year prior to such effective date shall, insofar as any qualifications established by the legislature for the office of magistrate are concerned and notwithstanding the same, be deemed qualified for life to run for election as a magistrate of any such court: And provided further, that the legislature shall not have the power to require that a magistrate be a person licensed to practice the profession of law, nor shall any justice or judge of any higher court establish any rules which by their nature would dictate or mandate that a magistrate be a person licensed to practice the profession of law. The magistrates of such courts shall hold their offices for the term of four years unless sooner removed or retired as authorized in this article. The legislature shall also determine the number of officers to be selected for each such court and the manner of their selection. During his continuance in office a magistrate or officer of such a court shall reside in the county for which he is elected or selected. The legislature shall prescribe by law for the filling of any vacancy in the office of a magistrate or officer of such court.

The jurisdiction of a magistrate court shall extend throughout the county for which it is established, shall be uniform for all counties of the State and shall be subject to such regulations as to venue of actions and the counties in which process may be executed or served on parties or witnesses as may be prescribed by law. The times and places for holding such courts shall be designated or determined in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.

Magistrate courts shall have such original jurisdiction in criminal matters as may be prescribed by law, but no person shall be convicted or sentenced for a felony in such courts. In criminal cases, the procedure may be by information or warrant of arrest, without presentment or indictment by a grand jury. Such courts shall have original jurisdiction in all civil cases at law wherein the value or amount in controversy, exclusive of interest and costs, shall not exceed fifteen hundred dollars, unless such amount and value shall be increased by the legislature, except such civil matters as may be excluded from their jurisdiction by law; and, to the extent provided by law, in proceedings involving real estate when the title thereto is not in controversy. No judgment of a magistrate in any proceeding involving real estate or any right pertaining thereto shall bar the title of any party or any remedy therefor . . . 

the voters of each county, at the general election to be held in 1976, and in every fourth year thereafter, such number of magistrates as is provided in section two [§ 50-1-2] of this article. The filing fee for the office of magistrate shall be one percent of the annual salary. The term of magistrates shall be for four years and shall begin on January 1, of the year following the year of election.

Effective with the primary election of 2016, all elections for magistrates will be on a nonpartisan basis by division. Beginning in 2016, there will no longer be primary elections held for magistrates and all elections for magistrates are to be held in the nonpartisan judicial election as set forth in article five [§§ 3-5-1 et seq.], chapter three of this code. All indications of party identification on election ballots for magistrate shall be omitted.