Douglas County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Douglas County was formed in 1854 and named after Senator Stephen Douglas. With over half a million residents, it is the most populated county (582,638 residents) in Nebraska and has more than a quarter of people living in the state. It has a land area of 328 square miles and 11 square miles of water bodies. Omaha is its county seat and the largest city in the county and state. The court system in Douglas County comprises District, County, and Juvenile Courts. These courts collectively meet the county's many legal demands.

The Douglas County 4th Judicial District Court in Omaha is the highest court in the county with jurisdiction over all cases but typically hears cases outside the purview of the County and Juvenile Courts. It has exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases with over $57,000 claims (claims limits are reviewed every 5 years), all felonies, and most domestic relations cases. It also hears appeals from the decisions of administrative agencies. The County Court of Douglas County in Omaha hears misdemeanors, municipal ordinance violations, and traffic infractions. It also handles uncontested probate matters, preliminary felony hearings, and civil cases with claims under $57,000. Lastly, the Douglas County Juvenile Court in Omaha has jurisdiction over all juvenile matters as well as domestic relations matters involving minors' welfare, child support, or child custody.

The crime rate in Douglas County is about 4,000 per 100,000 residents. The 4th Judicial District Court hears an average of 11,000 cases annually, including over 4,000 criminal cases, about 3,600 domestic relations matters, and about 2,000 civil cases. Similarly, the Douglas County Juvenile Court handles about 450 juvenile matters. The Douglas County Clerk of the District Court and Clerk of the County Court maintain all records generated in the District and County Courts, respectively. Members of the public can visit the courts to inspect or request copies of public court records from the respective courts. They can also search online for public court records from the District Court at a fee of $15 per search. The following court records in Douglas County are sealed to protect sensitive information and preserve privacy and can only be unsealed by court orders:

• Adoption records
• Most juvenile records
• Identifying information about jurors
• Grand jury proceedings and records
• Medical and mental health records
• Personally identifiable information such as license plate number, social security number, and driver's license number
• Financial information
• ‬Identifying information about confidential informants in criminal prosecutions

In summary, Douglas County's court system ensures the just and fair resolution of disputes to protect the people's liberties and rights. The Circuit, Juvenile, and County Courts are critical to delivering justice for all persons in Douglas County, regardless of their beliefs, race, or status. The public's confidence in the judicial system is increased by implementing an effective electronic system for managing court records, which guarantees accessibility and transparency. Douglas County is poised to maintain its high standards and remain a model of efficient court administration in Nebraska.