LINCOLN — The Nebraska State Bar Foundation is the winner of this year’s Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education.

The award comes from the National Center for State Courts and recognizes an organization, court, program or person who has promoted or led a civics education project related to the justice system.

Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican, in nominating the State Bar Foundation, outlined its array of outreach programs — ranging from the longstanding mock trial program for high school students to a juror orientation video that helps the public better understand courtroom procedures and jury responsibilities.

Other programs include a Bench Media Committee designed to increase public awareness of the legal system through dialogue with reporters; a job-shadowing day; a kids’ voting program.

While Heavican noted that the foundation’s civics education efforts predate his service on the high court, he said he has witnessed and has been impressed with the evolution of that programming.

“The Nebraska State Bar Foundation has, for many years, been a valued partner in delivering civic education throughout the State of Nebraska to students, jurors and consumers of local news,” Heavican said.

Named in honor of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the award is to be presented during a summer annual Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators. When O’Connor was named to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, she became the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court. Justice O’Connor retired from the Supreme Court in 2006 and became a tireless advocate for improving civics education, the NCSC says.

“We need partners like the Nebraska State Bar Foundation to promote civics education across the country, now, more than ever,” said NCSC president Mary McQueen. “I commend the foundation’s dedication to acquainting Nebraskans of all ages with the legal system and the vital role of courts in our democracy.”

The Virginia-based NCSC is a nonprofit court organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and U.S. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, NCSC said it focuses on providing education, training, technology, management and research services to the nation’s state courts.

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/ne-state-bar-foundation-is-recognize...