--- title: "Patrick M. Heng | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-m-heng-district-court-judge-nebraska-district-court-ne" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Patrick M. Heng Nebraska District Court, District 11 · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Nebraska District Court, District 11 - 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 - Judge of the District Court, 11th Judicial District Arthur, Chase, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, Mc Pherson, Perkins, Red Willow, & Thomas counties — 2022 – present - The current Judge of the 11th Judicial District Court in Nebraska, appointed in 2021 by Governor J. Peter Ricketts to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David W. Urbom - 2011–2019: Partner, Waite, McWha & Heng, North Platte, NE - Partner, Private practice of law North Platte, NE — 2011 - 2019 - McWha & Heng in North Platte (2011–2019), and solo practice before appointment. - Partner, Private practice of law Omaha, NE — 1987 - 2011 - Rensch & Pfeiffer in Omaha (1987–2011), partner at Waite - Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Lincoln, NE — 1984 - 1987 - His prior career encompassed deputy Lancaster County attorney (1984–1987), partner at Raynor - Leigh Ann Retelsdorf, a judge on Nebraska’s 4th Judicial District Court ### Education - University of Nebraska — J.D. (1984) - University of Nebraska–Lincoln — B.A., history, 1981 ### Additional information - Patrick M. Heng joined Nebraska’s 11th Judicial District Court in 2022 after appointment by Governor Pete Ricketts to succeed David Urbom. - 2020 - 2021 Sole Practitioner North Platte, NE - Judicial activities include the district judges’ pension and salary committee. - His practice included general civil litigation, family law, criminal defense, juvenile matters, divorce, child custody, appeals, collection litigation, and contract disputes ## 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-patrick-m-heng) - [Official roster](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/hon-patrick-m-heng) - [Nebraska Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/hon-patrick-m-heng) - [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-patrick-m-heng](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hon-patrick-m-heng) - [Official Nebraska current judicial roster](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/directories/district-court-judges) - [hon-patrick-m-heng](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hon-patrick-m-heng) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-m-heng-district-court-judge-nebraska-district-court-ne", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-m-heng-district-court-judge-nebraska-district-court-ne", "name": "Patrick M. Heng | KnowJudges", "description": "Patrick M. Heng, Nebraska District Court, District 11. 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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.