Article 20: Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage in Nebraska Trial Courts · Last amended March 10, 2021 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentence§ 6-2001 permits expanded news media coverage in Nebraska’s county and district courtrooms, bars it in juvenile court to protect children’s privacy and rehabilitation, and confirms that official court reporters and clerks, not the media, keep the official record.
(A)Expanded news media coverage shall be permitted in the county and district courtrooms in Nebraska courts, except as otherwise provided for within these rules.
(1)Expanded news media coverage is prohibited by anyone other than court personnel, those authorized under these rules, and/or as otherwise ordered by a judicial officer.
(2)The Nebraska Juvenile Code serves the best interests of the child through protecting privacy, nonpunitive interventions, and rehabilitative outcomes. Expanded news media coverage therefore is not permitted in actions pending in Nebraska’s juvenile
(B)The official record of all judicial proceedings are the exclusive duty of the official court reporters and courtroom clerks pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 1-201 et seq.
Amendment History
§ 6-2001 adopted December 21, 2016, effective March 1, 2017; § 6-2001 amended June 24, 2020; § 6-2001 amended March 10, 2021.
Plain-English Summary
§ 6-2001 opens the courtroom door to cameras and broadcast coverage, but only so far. It permits expanded news media coverage in county and district courtrooms across Nebraska, subject to everything else the Article 20 rules require. No one gets to bring in cameras or recording equipment on their own authority — coverage is limited to court personnel, people authorized under these rules, and anyone a judge specifically permits.
Juvenile court is walled off entirely. The rule explains why: Nebraska’s Juvenile Code exists to serve a child’s best interests through privacy, nonpunitive handling, and rehabilitation, and expanded media coverage would work against all three. So juvenile proceedings do not get expanded coverage under these rules, regardless of what a judge in an adult criminal or civil case might allow.
Finally, § 6-2001 draws a line between media coverage and the official record of a case. No matter how much broadcast or recording access a court permits, the official court reporters and courtroom clerks remain solely responsible for the actual record of the proceedings, under Neb. Ct. R. § 1-201 et seq. A news broadcast is not, and cannot become, the record a court or an appeal relies on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is expanded news media coverage allowed in Nebraska courts?
It is permitted in county and district courtrooms, subject to the other conditions and exclusions the Article 20 rules set out.
Can cameras cover juvenile court proceedings?
No. Expanded news media coverage is not permitted in actions pending in Nebraska’s juvenile courts, to protect the privacy and rehabilitative purpose of the juvenile code.
Who can bring a camera or recorder into a Nebraska courtroom?
Only court personnel, people authorized under these rules, or anyone a judicial officer specifically permits — expanded coverage by anyone else is prohibited.
Does a televised broadcast of a hearing count as the official court record?
No. Official court reporters and courtroom clerks remain exclusively responsible for the official record, regardless of any media coverage that is permitted.
Why does Nebraska exclude juvenile cases from media coverage?
The rule points to the Juvenile Code’s purpose of protecting privacy and promoting nonpunitive, rehabilitative outcomes, which expanded coverage would undermine.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Judicial Branch, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Nebraska. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
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