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LB 1169

Prohibit assault on a court operations officer

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Woody Wordekemper

Nebraska bill creates criminal penalties for assaulting court operations officers, establishing statutory protections for judicial staff currently lacking specialized assault statutes.

Notice of hearing for February 11, 2026
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Bill Summary · LB 1169

Legislative bill overview

LB 1169 proposes to make it a criminal offense to assault court operations officers in Nebraska. The bill creates legal protections specifically for court staff who perform administrative and operational functions within the judicial system, establishing penalties for violent acts against these workers.

Why is this important

Court operations officers perform essential functions keeping courthouses running—processing documents, managing schedules, and maintaining order—but currently lack the same statutory assault protections afforded to judges, law enforcement, or other court personnel. This gap means assaults on these workers may be prosecuted under general assault statutes rather than enhanced charges, potentially resulting in lighter penalties.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: How broadly "court operations officer" is defined could either adequately protect all vulnerable court staff or be so narrow it excludes some workers who face similar risks
  • Penalty levels: Whether the enhanced penalties for assaulting these officers should match those for assaulting other protected classes (judges, police) or differ, and whether this creates appropriate proportionality
  • Judicial resources: Implementation costs for training, enforcement, and prosecution of this new category of crime versus general assault charges already available

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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