Cast an Informed Vote on Judicial Retention
Nebraskans don’t elect judges, but we do get a say on whether they should keep their seats. This Election Day, Nebraskans will decide whether 50 judges keep their current roles or end their terms on the court.
These ballot questions ask "Shall [Judge's Name] be retained in office?" A YES vote is to keep the judge on the court. A NO vote is to end their term on the court.
The ACLU of Nebraska does not take positions in retention votes but does encourage supporters to cast an informed vote.
Our judicial retention votes are just as important as votes on political candidates and ballot measures because judges make consequential decisions every day. Depending on the courts where the judges sit, those determinations might have to do with bail, sentencing or broader matters of civil rights and civil liberties.
One popular starting point for research is the Nebraska State Bar Association’s survey of attorneys who have practiced before the judges. We've summarized basic details on the judges who are up for a retention vote, including the courts they serve on, their tenure and scores from that survey.
See how the judges stacked up in the Bar Association's Judicial Performance Evaluation poll.
Please note that if you are viewing on mobile, you will need to touch the table and push to the left to see a column for the judges' characteristic scores.
Nebraska judges run for retention in the first general election that comes more than three years after their appointment and every six years thereafter. More information is available on the state’s judicial branch website.
