An action under the County Court Expedited Civil Actions Act should ordinarily be submitted to the jury or the court within two business days from the commencement of trial. Unless the court allows additional time for good cause shown, each side shall be allowed no more than six hours to complete jury selection, opening statements, presentation of evidence, examination and cross- examination of witnesses, and closing arguments. Time spent on objections, bench conferences, and challenges for cause to a juror are not included in the time limit.
§ 25-2746.Action; time limitations.
Article 27: County Court Rules of Procedure and Probate Practice · Last amended 2020 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceExpedited Act trials are meant to submit to the jury or court within two business days of starting, with each side capped at six hours total for jury selection, opening statements, evidence, witness examination, and closing argument, unless the court allows more time for good cause.
Full Text of § 25-2746
Source
Laws 2020, LB912, § 6.
Plain-English Summary
The Act aims for trials that move. It states that a case should ordinarily be submitted to the jury or the court within two business days from the start of trial — a directive, not an absolute rule, since a court can allow more time for good cause shown.
Within that trial, each side gets a shared budget of no more than six hours to cover jury selection, opening statements, presentation of evidence, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and closing arguments. Time spent on objections, bench conferences, and challenges for cause to a juror does not count against that six-hour clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a trial supposed to last under the Expedited Civil Actions Act?
The case should ordinarily submit to the jury or court within two business days from when trial begins, though a court can allow additional time for good cause.
How much time does each side get to present its case?
No more than six hours total, unless the court allows more for good cause.
Does the six-hour clock include time spent on objections?
No. Time spent on objections, bench conferences, and challenges for cause to a juror is not counted against the six-hour limit.
Can the court give more time than the Act’s default limits allow?
Yes, if the court allows additional time for good cause shown.
What activities count against a side’s six-hour limit?
Jury selection, opening statements, presentation of evidence, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and closing arguments.
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: expedited trial time limit nebraskasix hour trial rule county court nebraskahow long does an expedited civil trial taketwo business day trial deadline nebraska