--- title: "Jeffrey J. Funke | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jeffrey-j-funke-chief-justice-nebraska-supreme-court-ne" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Jeffrey J. Funke Nebraska Supreme Court · Chief Justice ## Profile - Court: Nebraska Supreme Court - State: Nebraska - Role: Chief Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - American judge and the Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court since November 1, 2024 - Chief Justice, Nebraska Supreme Court, since 2024-11-01 - Nebraska Supreme Court Justice: June 15, 2016 – October 31, 2024, appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts to succeed William M. Connolly - Justice, District 5, 2016-2024 - 2013–2016, 2nd Judicial District (Cass, Sarpy, Otoe counties) (District Court Judge) - Presiding Judge: 2nd Judicial District County Court (2008–2010) and District Court (2016) - District court judge, District 5, 2007-2016 - 2007–2013, 2nd Judicial District (County Court Judge) - Private practice of law and Otoe County Attorney; from 2005 - 2007 - County court judge, District 5, 2004-2007 - Private practice of law and Deputy County Attorney, Otoe County; from 1997 - 2005 - Private practice of law and Deputy Public Defender, Otoe County; from 1994 - 1997 ### Education - University of Nebraska College of Law — J.D. (1994) - University of Nebraska-Lincoln — B.A. (1991) - in Business — University of Nebraska–Lincoln — B.S. (1991) - University of Nebraska system ### Additional information - He was re‐elected in the 2020 retention election for his Supreme Court seat - At the time of his 2016 Supreme Court appointment, Funke was the youngest jurist on the court - Born April 15, 1969. - Date of birth: 1969-04-15 - Funke is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association and the Second Judicial District Bar Association (past president). - He has served on multiple Nebraska Supreme Court committees, including the Uniform Statewide Rule Committee (co‐chair) and the Problem‐Solving Courts Committee. - He has also volunteered in mock trial programs and community legal education ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media requests Scope: statewide Nebraska directs media requests to broadcast or photograph court proceedings to the Supreme Court media-coverage rules and published expanded-media-coverage process. Evidence excerpt: Media requests to broadcast or take still photos of court proceedings are governed by Nebraska Supreme Court rule §2-118 [Media Information and Court Coverage Protocol](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/rules/administrative-policies-schedules/media) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### non public areas Scope: statewide Nebraska requires media requests to film or photograph non-public courthouse areas to be submitted to the resident or presiding judge of the Judicial District. Evidence excerpt: Media requests to film or photograph in non-public areas, e.g. private offices or employee work areas not located in public areas must be submitted [Media Information and Court Coverage Protocol](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/rules/administrative-policies-schedules/media) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### trial court expanded coverage Scope: statewide Nebraska permits expanded news media coverage in county and district courtrooms unless the trial-court expanded-coverage rules provide otherwise. Evidence excerpt: Expanded news media coverage shall be permitted in the county and district courtrooms in Nebraska courts [§ 6-2001. Scope; limitations.](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/supreme-court-rules/chapter-6-trial-courts/article-20-rules-expanded-news-media-coverage-nebraska-trial-courts/%C2%A7-6-2001-scope-limitations) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### juvenile court coverage Scope: statewide Nebraska does not permit expanded news media coverage in actions pending in Nebraska juvenile courts. Evidence excerpt: Expanded news media coverage therefore is not permitted in actions pending in Nebraska’s juvenile courts. [§ 6-2001. Scope; limitations.](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/supreme-court-rules/chapter-6-trial-courts/article-20-rules-expanded-news-media-coverage-nebraska-trial-courts/%C2%A7-6-2001-scope-limitations) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### appellate media coverage Scope: statewide Nebraska permits broadcasting, televising, recording, and photographing in Supreme Court and Court of Appeals courtroom proceedings under Rule 2-117, subject to stated conditions. Evidence excerpt: broadcasting, televising, recording, and photographing will be permitted in all judicial proceedings in the courtroom during sessions [§ 2-117. Media coverage of proceedings before the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Nebraska Court of Appeals.](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/supreme-court-rules/chapter-2-appeals/article-1-nebraska-court-rules-appellate-practice/%C2%A7-2-117-media-coverage-proceedings-nebraska-supreme-court-and-nebraska-court-appeals) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### appellate equipment Scope: statewide Nebraska appellate media equipment quantity and type are subject to Chief Justice discretion, and equipment location is designated by the Chief Justice or Chief Judge. Evidence excerpt: The quantity and types of equipment permitted in the courtroom shall be subject to the discretion of the Chief Justice [§ 2-117. Media coverage of proceedings before the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Nebraska Court of Appeals.](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/supreme-court-rules/chapter-2-appeals/article-1-nebraska-court-rules-appellate-practice/%C2%A7-2-117-media-coverage-proceedings-nebraska-supreme-court-and-nebraska-court-appeals) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-justices) - [Official roster](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-justices) - [Nebraska Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-justices) - [Media Information and Court Coverage Protocol](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/rules/administrative-policies-schedules/media) - [§ 6-2001. Scope; limitations.](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/supreme-court-rules/chapter-6-trial-courts/article-20-rules-expanded-news-media-coverage-nebraska-trial-courts/%C2%A7-6-2001-scope-limitations) - [§ 2-117. Media coverage of proceedings before the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Nebraska Court of Appeals.](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/supreme-court-rules/chapter-2-appeals/article-1-nebraska-court-rules-appellate-practice/%C2%A7-2-117-media-coverage-proceedings-nebraska-supreme-court-and-nebraska-court-appeals) - [Wikidata: Jeffrey J. Funke](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47455923) - [hon-jeffrey-j-funke-chief-justice](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hon-jeffrey-j-funke-chief-justice) - [Official Nebraska current judicial roster](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/directories/supreme-court-justices) - [Wikidata: Jeffrey J. Funke](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47455923) - [hon-jeffrey-j-funke-chief-justice](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hon-jeffrey-j-funke-chief-justice) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jeffrey-j-funke-chief-justice-nebraska-supreme-court-ne", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jeffrey-j-funke-chief-justice-nebraska-supreme-court-ne", "name": "Jeffrey J. Funke | KnowJudges", "description": "Jeffrey J. Funke, Nebraska Supreme Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jeffrey-j-funke-chief-justice-nebraska-supreme-court-ne#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jeffrey-j-funke-chief-justice-nebraska-supreme-court-ne#judge", "name": "Jeffrey J. 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