College of Saint Mary students gain insight from Nebraska Court of Appeals judges

OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) students got a firsthand look at courtroom procedures and learned the role of judges while the Nebraska Court of Appeals convened on campus. 

The Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on campus on September 17, which is Constitution Day, as part of the Court of Appeals College Campus Initiative. The program provides community outreach and education about the judicial branch to young people by bringing the court’s oral arguments to college campuses. 

“This is my first time watching court procedures in person,” said Kayleia Sias, a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies student. “It was fascinating to see the real-world manifestation of what you see on TV. The judges were informative. It was a great experience.” 

CSM students, including those from the legal studies program, local high school students and members of the Omaha community attended the court sessions.  

Bridgett Belluchi, a student in the legal studies program, served as the bailiff during the court proceedings. “I love being in the courtroom. I’ve experienced court as part of my classes, but I’ve never had the chance to serve as a bailiff before.” 

Rick Jeffries, a lawyer at Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather and vice chair of the CSM Board of Directors, spoke before oral arguments began about the importance of Constitution Day, which commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, recognizes the contributions of the founders of the country and honors U.S. citizens. 

Candice Novak, a Douglas County District 4 judge and a 2001 alum from the Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies program, shared how cases reach the appellate court. 

The Court of Appeals divided into two panels with three judges each to hear legal arguments in the morning and afternoon. An open question-and-answer session with the judges followed each session. Students asked questions about the judges’ career paths, job challenges and court protocols. 

“It gives us an opportunity to interact with the public, which we don’t always get the chance to do,” Chief Judge Francie Riedmann said. “Students are our future, so to be able to interact with them is rewarding.” 

The Court of Appeals of Nebraska is the state’s second-highest court and reviews appeals from state trial court decisions. The six judges on the Court of Appeals hear nearly 1,000 cases each year. A decision of the Nebraska Court of Appeals is final unless granted further review by the Nebraska Supreme Court.