It is set in stone, unlike the Constitution, our nation’s rule of law, many are valiantly defending to this day.

On Aug. 10, 1875, six attorneys convened at the Douglas County Courthouse to establish the Douglas County Bar Association. Membership was offered to lawyers in good standing, who resided or practiced within Douglas County. That inaugural year welcomed 34 members, with Andrew J. Poppleton elected as president and B.E.B. Kennedy, vice president.

Friday, October 17th, a plaque, commemorating their 150th anniversary was hung within these hallowed halls, in tribute to the association, which has grown to 1,500 members strong.

“Their founding purpose was to ‘maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law; to cultivate social intercourse among its members, and to increase its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice,’” according to Dave Sommers, executive director for the past 13 years.

“By 1888, with a membership of 106 attorneys, the association formally adopted the name Omaha Bar Association, a name it continues to carry with pride to this day. Throughout its history, the Omaha Bar Association has remained steadfast in its commitment to the legal profession and the public good,” he said. 

Withstanding the trials and tribulations of time, the courthouse – a building and institution vital for so many bar association members – was, in fact, site of one of the darkest days in Omaha's history.

In 1919, rioters stormed the fifth-floor jail and a black man (the wrong one at that) was shot, beaten, set afire and lynched – amid widespread racial violence across the United States. The city's mayor, trying to quell the mob, was also hung, yet saved at the last minute, according to historical accounts. 

Bullet holes still mar the rotunda’s marble balustrade, and the mob almost succeeded in burning the courthouse down, a place where justice strives to prevail.

The 150 years of law practice in Omaha is full of significant events, leaders, and evolutions, according to Sommers, a witness to history. 

“The OBA’s enduring contributions include promoting access to justice through legal services for the indigent, advancing legal education, offering lawyer referral services, publishing legal resources, and upholding the rule of law as the foundation of our legal system,” he said.

“It is the honor of a lifetime,” he added, “to be a steward of the Omaha Bar Association. All the important work and accomplishments of the organization and its members over 150 years is incredibly inspiring.” 

Just Whom It Represents…

“The OBA has been (and continues to) be made up of elected officials, community leaders, public servants, academics, nationally recognized legal practitioners, creatives, general counsels, and attorneys who care deeply about their clients, the world they live in, and the practice of law. Our members are engaged in the world around us, a true net positive for our society and citizens,” he said.

Which makes the venue, where the plaque is now displayed, even more significant, according to OBA President Kathleen S. Pallesen, who followed in the footsteps of her father, Douglas County District Court Judge Dick Spethman, into OBA leadership.

“In the intervening 150 years since our founding, our bar association’s home away from home has been the Douglas County Courthouse. Our members have zealously represented clients, argued cases, negotiated deals, adjudicated matters, built lifelong friendships, and shared their lives in these hallowed halls. The history of the OBA is so intertwined with this building, we felt it only appropriate to celebrate one of our 150th events where it all happens,” she said.

As in past endeavors, there were many people to thank, who helped paved the way. 

“We are so appreciative of the Building Commission for allowing us to put the plaque in this amazing space,” she said, during the ceremony, giving nod to sponsors and gathered dignitaries, which included Chief Justice Jeffrey J. Funke, members of the judiciary, city council officials and the Douglas County Commission.

As part of the ceremony, J. Terry Macnamara, past president of the OBA and practitioner for 65 years, and Hannah Frankel, in practice for 3 years and current chair of the Young Lawyers Division, were selected to represent the generations of attorneys within the OBA to conduct the unveiling.

But it would be remiss, not to thank the OBA members themselves, Pallesen said.

“The people are what makes any organization successful, and the people make the OBA a truly great organization. For 150 years the OBA has instilled camaraderie and professionalism within the (legal community). The social events and personal interaction are crucial to maintain a collegial bar association, where everyone feels comfortable and can make professional connections,” she said.

Pallesen, who has a solo practice through Spethman Pallesen Law Offices, LLC, graduated from University of Nebraska College of Law and was admitted to the Nebraska Bar in 1991. 

However, her connections to the legal profession are a bit more familial…

“I am a third-generation Nebraska attorney. I enjoy the people in the profession, and serving in a profession that is vital to our society. I am excited to carry on the tradition of the OBA and hope to instill that in our children,” she said, referring to a fourth generation of attorneys in the family.

“After four years working in Washington D.C., my husband, Mike, and I moved back to Omaha in 1995, and I have been a member ever since,” she said, of her OBA ties.

Pallesen established the firm in 2013, along with her father, after his retirement, specializing in estate planning, probate, and serving as guardian ad litem in district and county courts across several Nebraska counties.

“I grew up around the courthouse, attorneys and judges,” she said of her “legal lineage”. Before my dad became a district judge, my dad officed in the First National Bank Building, and every Saturday he took my sisters, Joanne and Peggy and I, to Northrup Jones for breakfast. This started when I was 5 years old until about age 10. 

“He would meet Judge William Ryan, Judge James “Jim” Buckley and Judge Walter Cropper. My grandfather, Martin Holbrook, graduated from Creighton Law School in 1926. My father graduated from Creighton Law School in 1962. I broke family tradition and graduated from University of Nebraska College of Law in 1991, where I met my husband and classmate, Mike Pallesen.”

But their loyalty to rule of law, runs more than skin deep.

“Mike’s father, Chuck, graduated from University of Nebraska College of Law in 1962. To make matters more interesting, our daughter, Katie Pallesen Kalkowski, received her Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame in 2022, and our youngest daughter, Maggie, is a second-year law student at University of Nebraska College of Law. I guess you could say ‘it’s in our blood!’” she claims.

For her, the greatest OBA benefit has been to meet and develop relationships with other attorneys in the area. 

“I am getting older, and the bar is getting younger. I really want to engage the younger attorneys and show that the OBA is here to help them develop as practitioners, in whatever capacity they work, provide a social outlet and resource for professional development,” she said.

As Far As Best Aspect…

“Without question, the free continuing legal education and social events. We usually have both included in one event,” she readily said.

In fact, this would be an opportune time to become a member, if one hasn’t already, she added.

“We have started our 150th year celebrations and will continue through July 2026,” she said, noting plans for a final gala.

Angela Lennon, OBA immediate past-president, who has served in many capacities among several committees, including the executive council, voiced the same sentiments.

“The Omaha Bar Association is special because it blends professional development, collegiality, and community service in a local, accessible way. For 150 years, it has been a place where lawyers, from new practitioners to seasoned judges, can connect, learn, mentor, and support one another. OBA’s programs, including CLEs, social events, committees, and pro bono work, foster not only legal skill but also meaningful relationships and civic engagement,” she said.

A leading advocate, she encourages lawyers to become involved in the OBA to enrich their careers, build meaningful connections, and find opportunities to give back to the local legal community. 

“Being an OBA member provides so many benefits, including high-quality, free CLE programming, collaboration with attorneys and judges I might not otherwise cross paths with, and the opportunity to serve our profession through committee and leadership roles,” she said.

A member since 2012, at the start of her career, Lennon is an attorney at Koenig|Dunne, which focuses on high-net-worth divorces, collaborative divorce, and mediation.

“I was drawn to the legal profession because I believe deeply in the rule of law, fairness, and using advocacy as a means to help others. It’s a privilege to be part of a profession where skill, integrity, service, and human impact intersect,” she said, of her legal pursuits.

Best aspects of membership, in her opinion, the sense of community and connection. 

“The OBA allows us to step outside our day-to-day legal bubble and engage with colleagues across practice areas and experience levels. Through social events, gatherings, and committee work, we form relationships that truly enrich our careers and our lives,” she said.

The same rings true for Mark F. Jacobs, partner at Bressman, Hoffman, Jacobs & Quandt, which specializes in family law.

Jacobs joined the OBA in 2012, served as chair of the OBA Lawyer Referral Service Committee, is currently treasurer and was awarded its Alfred G. Ellick Lawyer Referral Service Award in 2023. 

“The OBA gives local attorneys the opportunity to connect with one another outside of the office/courtroom. When we are able to see other attorneys as colleagues, rather than adversaries, it makes the practice more enjoyable,” he said. 

As evidenced by the congeniality shared among members.

“After battling with an attorney in trial all day, you are unlikely to go out to dinner with them or grab a drink. Through OBA programs and events, you do get the chance to do just that. You get to connect with that person in a different way. And maybe the next time you have a case opposite them, you can represent your client’s interests while maintaining a professional and friendly relationship,” he said.

But it just isn’t a win-win for the legal professionals.

“This perspective also benefits the clients because you form relationships that help with negotiations, litigation, referrals, etc. This is the best aspect of membership,” he said. 

As To Its Impact On Society As A Whole...

“The public generally seeks legal counsel when they are facing an extremely stressful and/or serious situation. Without a competent bar to assist them, clients wouldn’t be able to move forward in their lives, and trust in the legal system itself would erode,” Jacobs noted.

In addition to the ceremonial plaque, the OBA commemorated the 150th anniversary at the Hruska Federal Courthouse in August, with Larry Dwyer, local attorney/author, speaking on the ground-breaking case of Standing Bear v. Crook and Standing Bear’s attorney, OBA founder, Andrew J. Poppleton. 

“It was the first civil rights victory for Native Americans and began the movement for Indian reform across the nation. And it all occurred right here in Omaha, Neb.,” according to Dwyer, who helped create and serves on the board of directors and as an officer of The Chief Standing Bear Project, Inc., a national, nonprofit organization to promote the life and legacy of Standing Bear.

On Jan. 17, 2026, the OBA will host another event for all members of the legal community at the Livestock Exchange Building to commemorate their milestone, where they will present their 150th Anniversary Book, Sommers said.

Open to all attorneys in all areas of practice, membership is voluntary, however a significant majority of attorneys in the metro area maintain membership in the OBA, he said.

To learn more, please visit the OBA web site: www.omahabarassociation.com.