---
title: "Julie D. Smith | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/julie-d-smith-district-court-judge-nebraska-district-court-district-2-ne"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Julie D. Smith

Nebraska District Court, District 1 · District Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Nebraska District Court, District 1
- State: Nebraska
- Role: District Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- District Court Judge, 1st Judicial District Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, and Thayer counties — 2017-present
- The District 1 Court Judge for Nebraska, appointed in 2017, serving cases across ten counties and with a background in public service, law enforcement, and legal advocacy
- Julie D. Smith became a Nebraska District Court judge in the 1st Judicial District in 2017 after appointment by Governor Pete Ricketts.
- Her earlier positions included deputy Johnson County attorney (2004–2005), attorney at Nestor & Mercure (2005–2006), Johnson County attorney and Smith & Smith partner (2007–2015), and Nebraska Department of Correctional Services general counsel (2015–2017)
- Deputy Johnson County Attorney Johnson County Attorney's Office 2007-2015 — 2004-2005
- Also active in local community organizations and has been recognized for her leadership in advancing the legal profession and justice administration

### Education

- University of Kansas — J.D. (2004)
- Drake University — B.S., business administration, 2001

### Additional information

- General Counsel, Executive Staff Member, Appeals Board Member Nebraska Department of Correctional Services — 2015-2017
- Her judicial activities include education, ethics, and adult offender supervision committees; the cited branch report describes later professional recognition.

## 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/hon-julie-d-smith)
- [Official roster](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/hon-julie-d-smith)
- [Nebraska Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/hon-julie-d-smith)
- [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)
- [hon-julie-d-smith](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hon-julie-d-smith)
- [Official Nebraska current judicial roster](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/directories/district-court-judges)
- [nebraskajudicial.gov](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/administration/news/everyday-heroes-judge-smith-honored)
- [hon-julie-d-smith](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hon-julie-d-smith)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [§ 6-2001. Scope; limitations.](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-9b78337701e261589c5b3f96) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](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). Collected 2026-07-26.
