---
title: "Laurie Smith Camp | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/laurie-smith-camp-3029"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Laurie Smith Camp

U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska · Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
- State: Nebraska
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, District Court, D. Nebraska, 2001-present
- chief deputy attorney general for criminal matters, 1995-2001
- Assistant attorney general, State of Nebraska, 1991-2001
- General counsel, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, 1980-1991
- Her legal career began as Associate General Counsel for First National Bank & Trust Company (1977–1978), followed by private practice (1978–1980)

### Education

- University of Nebraska College of Law in — J.D. (1977)
- Stanford University — B.A. (1974)
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln — J.D.

### Additional information

- Laurie Louise Smith Camp (1953–2020) was the first woman appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, serving from 2001 until her death in 2020, and was known for her fairness, legal expertise, and community leadership
- She held the role of Chief Judge from 2011 to 2018, then assumed senior status on December 1, 2018.
- She received numerous honors, including the Nebraska State Manager of the Year award (1994) and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Distinguished Alumni Award (2006)
- On September 4, 2001, President George W. Bush nominated her to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, replacing William G. Cambridge.
- chief, Civil Rights Section, 1991-1995
- Born November 28, 1953 in Omaha, Nebraska, Smith Camp graduated with distinction from Stanford University in 1974
- Date of birth: 1953-01-01
- She also served as a real estate developer in Lincoln’s Haymarket District
- She was the first woman appointed to a U.S. district judgeship in Nebraska.
- Birth place: Omaha, NE

## 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/3029/laurie-smith-camp/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3029/laurie-smith-camp/)
- [U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3029/laurie-smith-camp/)
- [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/3029/laurie-smith-camp/)
- [Smith Camp, Laurie | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/smith-camp-laurie)
- [Smith Camp, Laurie](https://www.ned.uscourts.gov/public/judicial-archive/smithcamp-l)
- [Wikidata: Laurie Smith Camp](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6501731)

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