--- title: "Timothy P. Burns | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/timothy-p-burns-district-court-judge-nebraska-district-court-ne" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Timothy P. Burns Nebraska District Court, District 4 · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Nebraska District Court, District 4 - 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, District 4, 2011-present - Seasoned Nebraska judge with a long background in public defense, recognized for his service to Douglas County citizens for over 15 years on the bench, and now retiring in late 2026 - Retired Nebraska District Court Judge for the 4th Judicial District (Douglas County) who served from 2011 until his retirement on October 30, 2026 - Prior Douglas County Public Defender's Office 1985-2011, senior assistant 1996-2011; law clerk to Hon. Thomas Shanahan 1984-1985 - Office of the Honorable Thomas Shanahan, law clerk; from 1984 - 1985 - He also held the role of a law clerk to the Hon ### Education - Creighton University School of Law JD cum laude 1984. - B.S in Criminal Justice — University of Nebraska–Lincoln, minor in Political Science — 1981 ### Additional information - Burns was retained by voters in 2014 and 2020, most recently with 71.6% of the vote in the 2020 retention election. - Creighton Law Review. ## 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-timothy-p-burns) - [Official roster](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/hon-timothy-p-burns) - [Nebraska Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/hon-timothy-p-burns) - [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-timothy-p-burns](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hon-timothy-p-burns) - [Official Nebraska current judicial roster](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/directories/district-court-judges) - [hon-timothy-p-burns](https://nebraskajudicial.gov/courts/hon-timothy-p-burns) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/timothy-p-burns-district-court-judge-nebraska-district-court-ne", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/timothy-p-burns-district-court-judge-nebraska-district-court-ne", "name": "Timothy P. Burns | KnowJudges", "description": "Timothy P. Burns, Nebraska District Court, District 4. 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/timothy-p-burns-district-court-judge-nebraska-district-court-ne#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/timothy-p-burns-district-court-judge-nebraska-district-court-ne#judge", "name": "Timothy P. 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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.