How Nebraska DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Nebraska is prosecuted in the County Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Nebraska county courts have original jurisdiction over misdemeanor DUI and traffic offenses, while felony DUI — a third or later offense, or one causing serious injury or death — is prosecuted in district court. Appeals from county court go to the district court, and from there to the Nebraska Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at supremecourt.nebraska.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Nebraska
A DUI case in Nebraska is heard in the County Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 10 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,196 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Nebraska's implied-consent section, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,197. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 10 days — The DMV administers the Administrative License Revocation process for a chemical test failure or refusal. You have 10 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the County Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the County Court. Nebraska county courts have original jurisdiction over misdemeanor DUI and traffic offenses, while felony DUI — a third or later offense, or one causing serious injury or death — is prosecuted in district court.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Nebraska's trial courts file through the Judicial Branch's JUSTICE electronic filing system.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $500, jail exposure up to 2 months, a licence suspension of 2 months, an ignition interlock requirement. Prior offenses within 15 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense carries a mandatory fine plus licence impoundment or interlock.
- 6Reinstatement — Reinstatement after a DUI revocation is governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-498.02, which also covers interlock permits. Nebraska requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Nebraska
- Nebraska's trial courts file through the Judicial Branch's JUSTICE electronic filing system.
- County courts are courts of record.
- Administrative licence revocation proceedings are run by the DMV, separate from the criminal case.
- A first offender may be eligible for an ignition interlock permit during the revocation under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,197.03.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Nebraska ZIP codes covered
These Nebraska ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Nebraska resources
Counties
Other Nebraska official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Nebraska?
- First-offense DUI cases in Nebraska are heard in the County Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Nebraska?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the NE driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 10 days of arrest.