Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution

04/20/2026

As part of the 2024 Chief’s Leadership Academy, a working group led by Judge Ryan Post identified a gap in support to district judges when reviewing parenting plans submitted to the court. Douglas County District Court, through their local court rules, has the Conciliation and Mediation Services Office that provides a review of parenting plans and Judge Post set out to evaluate possible options that could be available to district courts and achieve similar outcomes.

The option that rose to the top was a narrowly focused project in which a medium-sized district would collaborate with the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation’s Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) to develop and implement a Parenting Plan Review Pilot. The pilot was pitched to Judicial District 9, covering Hall and Buffalo counties. Under the direction of Presiding Judge Patrick Lee, the pilot program was initiated. Read more: https://nejudicial.com/3OC2hDZ

12/12/2025

The external evaluation report examining descriptive, future system involvement (i.e., recidivism), and satisfaction data related Nebraska youth restorative justice processes is now available. Take a look! https://nejudicial.com/44nVang

12/04/2025

The Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) has published the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Annual Report. This report provides a breakdown of the 3,996 cases managed from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, by the six ODR-approved mediation centers.

Read the full Annual Report: https://nejudicial.com/3MfAhEM

10/16/2025

🎉 Celebrate conflict? Yes! Fundamentally, conflict is a difference of views, real or perceived. Handled constructively, those differences provide an opportunity to hear other perspectives, think differently about situations, and work toward solutions that meet the needs of all involved. Conflict is a part of life, and when conflict is done in a solution-focused way it can facilitate improved communication and resolve issues.

08/15/2025

Kelly Riley, Director of the Office of Dispute Resolution, partnered with Marya Kolman, Manager of the Dispute Resolution Section of the Supreme Court of Ohio, to discuss how alternative dispute resolution (ADR) promotes access to justice and procedural fairness. These concepts are important as courts focus on public trust in the judicial system. https://nejudicial.com/4mbNZp4

07/02/2025

Want to become a mediator? Or are you looking for professional development to learn mediator communication and negotiation skills that can be used on the job? Whatever your end game is, this training is for you! The Nebraska Mediation Association is hosting a Basic Mediation Training in July:
📆July 22, 23, 24 & 25 | ⏰ 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CT
📍 Best Western Plus in Kearney, Nebraska
Registration closes soon!

Basic Mediation Training includes 30 instructional and participatory hours, generally taught over four days. The training is a balance of theory and practice. It focuses on a facilitative style of mediation in which the parties are generally kept in the same room and using caucus as a tool within...

06/16/2025

The Office of Dispute Resolution recently collaborated with the Nebraska Mediation Center (NMC) out of Fremont to host a booth at the 1st Annual Together for Indigenous Families Child Welfare Conference. NMC provides mediation services to the 4 Nebraska Tribal Nations, but our booth also provided information on all 6 Nebraska mediation centers and their array of services. The conference had an amazing turnout with great interest from attendees in learning more about mediation.

01/13/2025

The Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) has published the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Annual Report. This report provides an overview of Nebraska’s mediation system, outlines challenges faced in implementing the Dispute Resolution Act and provides recommendations to address the identified challenges. The Annual Report is available at: https://nejudicial.com/4a9ZcRI

12/02/2024

The holidays can be a stressful time leading to conflict that can be difficult to resolve on your own. The Nebraska mediation centers may be able to help. Find the mediation center that covers your town here. Happy Holidays and be safe!

Parent Education

10/14/2024

Great news! ODR is pleased to announce our 3-yr $1million grant has been extended to Sept 2025. ODR will continue to collaborate with the mediation centers, UNL & UNO to reach our goals of reducing recidivism for youth, engaging families and expanding youth restorative justice services.