District Court Judge Derek Weimer of Sidney was invited to sit with the Nebraska Supreme Court last week on the first argument session of the term.

District Court Judges Robert R. Steinke of Columbus and Robert R. Otte of Lincoln also were asked to sit with the court.

Weimer’s session was held Aug. 31 in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. The courtroom had been closed throughout the most recent term of the court due to heating and air conditioning renovations in the Capitol.

Steinke and Otte joined the court last Friday. It was the first time Otte has participated on the court. Steinke has, in prior years, joined the court for arguments.

 Seven justices make up the Nebraska Supreme Court. On occasion, a justice must recuse him or herself from a case, and a judge from a district court or the Court of Appeals is asked to sit with the state Supreme Court. 

Weimer has served as a judge in the 12th Judicial District since 2009. The district spans Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan and Sioux counties.

The 1999 graduate of the Creighton University School of Law previously spent two years as Scotts Bluff County attorney and previously was in private practice from 1999 to 2007 in Gering.

Steinke has served as a judge in the 5th Judicial District since 1991. The district spans Boone, Butler, Colfax, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward and York counties.

The 1979 graduate of the University of Nebraska School of Law spent 1996 to 2008 as the presiding judge of the 5th Judicial District and was previously in private practice from 1979 to 1991 in Columbus.

Otte has served as a judge in the 3rd Judicial District serving Lancaster County since 2008.

The 1981 graduate of Nebraska Law had previously been in private practice from 1981 to 2008 in Lincoln.