Francie C. Riedmann, of Gretna, has been appointed Chief Judge of the Nebraska Court of Appeals, effective September 13, 2024. She succeeds Judge Michael Pirtle, who has completed his term as Chief Judge.

Chief Justice Heavican noted, “The Supreme Court is pleased with the appointment of Judge Francie Riedmann as Chief Judge of the Nebraska Court of Appeals. Judge Riedmann has demonstrated her leadership and commitment to the law during her tenure on the Court of Appeals and on various Supreme Court committees. We look forward to working with Judge Riedmann in her role as Chief Judge.”

The chief judge of the Court of Appeals is responsible for managing the court’s caseload in coordination with the chief judge of the Supreme Court. The two heads of the appellate courts regularly inform each other of the number and nature of cases in their respective courts and shift cases between the two to ensure efficient resolution. The chief judge is additionally responsible for the administrative functions of the Court of Appeals and sets the schedule for hearings at locations throughout the state when not hearing cases at the State Capitol.

“I am honored to serve as the 8th Chief Justice of the Nebraska Court of Appeals. My predecessors have built excellent relationships with practicing attorneys, trial courts, and the Nebraska Supreme Court, and developed practices and procedures to enable our court to operate effectively and efficiently,” Riedmann noted. She continued, “I will strive to continue these relationships and build upon our current structure to provide timely and equitable resolutions to the attorneys and citizens of Nebraska who bring their cases before us.”

Judge Riedmann currently serves as co-chair of the Nebraska Supreme Court Commission on Guardianships and Conservatorships and the Nebraska Supreme Court Commission on Children in Court. She is a Lifetime Fellow of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation, a member of the Litigation Counsel of America, and a frequent speaker at continuing legal education events. She is an active participant in the Bar Foundation’s Mock Trial Competition, where she has served as both a judge and team coach, and in the Bar Foundation’s Dan Jewell Institute.

Riedmann began her tenure as a judge on the Court of Appeals in 2012, representing the 3rd Circuit. She received her juris doctorate, summa cum laude, from Creighton University School of Law in 1993.

Under Nebraska law, the term of chief judge of the Court of Appeals is two years, although there is no limit on the number of terms a judge can serve. Past chief judges of the Court of Appeals include retired Justice Richard D. Sievers, current Supreme Court Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman, John F. Irwin, Everett O. Inbody, Frankie J. Moore and Michael W. Pirtle.

In addition to the presiding judge Riedmann, the members of the court are:

District 1 – Hon. Riko Bishop

District 2 – Hon. Michael W. Pirtle

District 4 – Hon. David K. Arterburn

District 5 – Hon. Lawrence E. Welch

District 6 – Hon. Frankie J. Moore

To view upcoming Nebraska Court of Appeals arguments, click: https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/court-appeals/court-appeals-call