---
title: "Kenneth C. Stephan | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-c-stephan-5031"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Kenneth C. Stephan

Nebraska Supreme Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Nebraska Supreme Court
- State: Nebraska
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Nebraska Supreme Court, 1997-present
- Kenneth C. Stephan (October 8, 1946 – 2025) was an American jurist and former Associate Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, appointed in 1997 and retired in 2015
- Former Nebraska Supreme Court justice appointed by Governor Ben Nelson in 1997; the overview reports retirement in 2015
- From 1973 to 1997, Stephan practiced law in Lincoln, Nebraska, building a self-sustaining private practice
- He lived in Lincoln and often returned to speak at Central High School Law and Justice classes

### Education

- J.D. with High Distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1972
- The Central High School Foundation identifies him with the class of 1964 and confirms a University of Nebraska BA in 1968
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law

### Additional information

- Served until his retirement on July 1, 2015, after 18 years on the court.
- Stephan was retained by voters in 2000 (76%), 2006 (75%), and 2012 (77.57%).
- Governor Ben Nelson appointed Stephan to the Nebraska Supreme Court in March 1997 to represent District 1.
- Practitioner, 1996-1996
- Stephan was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1964.
- Date of birth: 1946-10-08
- Before his legal career, he served in the U.S. Army Intelligence in Korea The Central High School Foundation
- Remembered for his long, principled service on Nebraska’s highest court, his contributions to the legal community, and his active civic engagement.
- Served with US Army Intelligence in Korea and spent 24 years in private legal practice in Lincoln before his Supreme Court appointment.
- He also held judicial positions in Nebraska’s district courts before his supreme court appointment.
- Civic roles included boards of the Child Guidance Center, Haymarket Art Gallery, Folsom Children’s Zoo, and Abendmusik/Lincoln.
- Professional affiliations included the American College of Trial Lawyers and Order of the Coif.

## 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://www.courtlistener.com/person/5031/kenneth-c-stephan/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5031/kenneth-c-stephan/)
- [Nebraska Supreme Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5031/kenneth-c-stephan/)
- [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)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5031/kenneth-c-stephan/)
- [Wikidata: Kenneth C. Stephan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6389937)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-c-stephan-5031",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-c-stephan-5031",
      "name": "Kenneth C. Stephan | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Kenneth C. Stephan, 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/kenneth-c-stephan-5031#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-c-stephan-5031#judge",
      "name": "Kenneth C. Stephan",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-c-stephan-5031",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Nebraska Supreme Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5031/kenneth-c-stephan/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1946-10-08",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Omaha Central High School"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Nebraska–Lincoln"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Nebraska",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/nebraska"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Kenneth C. Stephan",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-c-stephan-5031"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```