All sheriffs shall be ministerial officers in county courts in their respective jurisdictions' civil and criminal cases, and civil and criminal processes may be executed by them throughout the jurisdiction.
§ 25-2232.Sheriffs; general powers.
Article 22: Process, Court Records, and Ministerial Officers · Last amended 1992 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceEstablishes sheriffs as ministerial officers of Nebraska’s county courts, empowered to execute civil and criminal process throughout their county court jurisdiction.
Full Text of § 25-2232
Source
Laws 1929, c. 82, art. XV, § 171, p. 323; C.S.1929, § 22-1501; R.S.1943, § 26-1,172; R.S.1943, (1979), § 26-1,172; Laws 1984, LB 13, § 40; Laws 1988, LB 1030, § 11; R.S.Supp,1988, § 24-595; Laws 1992, LB 1059, § 16.
Plain-English Summary
Section 25-2232 is the foundation for the sheriff-related sections that follow it. It designates sheriffs as ministerial officers of the county courts in their respective jurisdictions, for both civil and criminal cases, and authorizes them to execute civil and criminal process anywhere within that jurisdiction.
Calling the role ministerial matters: a sheriff carries out process the court directs rather than exercising independent judicial discretion over the underlying dispute. The sections that follow build on this foundation, spelling out specific duties — serving process, making returns, handling money collected, and the consequences of failing to do any of it properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that a sheriff is a “ministerial officer”?
It means the sheriff carries out the court’s process and orders rather than exercising independent judicial discretion over the case.
Do sheriffs handle both civil and criminal process?
Yes, both civil and criminal cases within their county court jurisdiction.
Where can a sheriff execute process?
Throughout the sheriff’s jurisdiction.
How does this section relate to the other sheriff duties in Article 22?
It supplies the general grant of authority; later sections spell out specific duties that flow from it, such as serving process, making returns, and accounting for money collected.
Is a sheriff’s role here different from a constable’s?
They serve similar functions, but the offices are distinct — a constable’s authority is separately defined and, in larger counties, arises by contract rather than by this general grant.
Source & verification. Section text and the amendment-history citation are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Legislature, Revisor of Statutes, enacted by the
Nebraska Legislature. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: sheriff general powers nebraskasheriff ministerial officer meaningsheriff civil and criminal processsheriff jurisdiction county courtnebraska sheriff authority statute