--- title: "William M. Connolly | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-m-connolly-5012" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # William M. Connolly 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, 1994-present - Retired associate justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, appointed in 1994 by Governor Ben Nelson and serving until his retirement in 2016 - He later became a Nebraska State Court of Appeals judge from 1992 to 1994 - Adams County deputy attorney during 1964–1966, county attorney during 1967–1972, and a private practitioner in Hastings during 1973–1991 - Before joining the Nebraska Supreme Court, Connolly held the role of Deputy Adams County Attorney (1964–1966) and then as Adams County Attorney from 1967 to 1972. ### Education - Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Creighton University School of Law in 1960 and 1963, respectively - The overview identifies Creighton University undergraduate study and a Creighton law degree in 1963, after Creighton Preparatory School graduation in 1956. ### Additional information - William M. Connolly served on Nebraska’s Court of Appeals during 1992–1994 and on the Nebraska Supreme Court from 1994 until retirement on August 1, 2016. - He was retained in 1998, 2004 and 2010. - Appointed in 1994, Connolly was retained by voters in multiple nonpartisan elections, most recently in 2010. - Practitioner, 1993-1993 - Connolly was born in 1938 and is a graduate of Creighton Preparatory School (Class of 1956). - Born March 31, 1938. - Date of birth: 1938-03-31 - Governor Ben Nelson appointed him to the Supreme Court. - Professional affiliations included Nebraska State Bar Association leadership and American College of Trial Lawyers fellowship ## 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/5012/william-m-connolly/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5012/william-m-connolly/) - [Nebraska Supreme Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5012/william-m-connolly/) - [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/5012/william-m-connolly/) - [Wikidata: William M. Connolly](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8014860) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-m-connolly-5012", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-m-connolly-5012", "name": "William M. Connolly | KnowJudges", "description": "William M. Connolly, Nebraska Supreme Court. 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