Shall Judge Duane C. Dougherty of the Douglas County District Court be retained in office?

Dougherty dismissed Millard Gutter's lawsuit against Nationwide Insurance without trial because the contractor did not establish that Nationwide issued the policies. He also rejected a request to change that ruling.

October 7, 2026

Source: nebraskajudicial.gov

By December 2019, Dougherty had dismissed D.S. Avionics' claims against Keith Edquist and granted judgment for Harley Sanwick without trial. The official appeal summary described challenges to those rulings.

October 7, 2026

Source: nebraskajudicial.gov

Dougherty sentenced Mark Carlson to 10 to 14 years in prison after a manslaughter verdict. The official appeal summary identified a challenge to his jury instructions without reporting an appellate outcome.

October 7, 2026

Source: nebraskajudicial.gov

Dougherty dismissed claims against Starr Indemnity and set aside a default against AXIS in an insurance dispute. Nebraska's Supreme Court later dismissed the appeal because the case lacked the required final judgment.

September 4, 2024

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty ordered public inspection of grand-jury transcripts about Zachary Bearheels' death in police custody, while restricting copies. Nebraska's Supreme Court dismissed the appeal because the inspection order was not a final appealable order.

January 25, 2019

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty sentenced Avina-Murillo to probation for negligent child abuse. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the conviction and sentence but left a lawyer-conflict claim unresolved because the record was insufficient.

September 28, 2018

Source: nebraska.gov

In 2017, Dougherty denied a punitive-damages instruction in Kathleen Jones v. Brian Kruger. He also refused to overturn a defense verdict in Megan Parker's medical-negligence case, according to the Omaha Bar Association.

May 1, 2018

Source: cdn.ymaws.com

Dougherty appointed Thomas Stalnaker to manage assets of Bryan R. Bonnett's estate and two investment-adviser companies during a state enforcement case.

June 6, 2016

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty withdrew from Anthony Garcia's murder trial because of health issues. Another judge took over the case.

February 17, 2016

Source: ketv.com

In the Nebraska State Bar Association's voluntary lawyer survey, 93.26% of respondents who rated Dougherty favored retaining him. His legal-reasoning rating was 5.1 out of 6, and his freedom-from-bias rating was 5.2.

July 27, 2026Favorable on Impartiality

Source: nebar.com

Dougherty recused himself from Ashford v. Kleine after Ashford requested another judge. Ashford had previously sued Dougherty and other judges; the signed order transferred the case.

October 15, 2021Favorable on Impartiality

Source: supremecourt.gov

Dougherty stepped aside from Matt Fedde's sexual-assault case because an attorney in the case had previously represented him. He declined to reconsider, citing the need to avoid questions about impartiality.

November 6, 2018Favorable on Impartiality

Source: necaa.org

Dougherty allowed prosecutors to remove the only Black prospective juror in Stanley Wofford's trial, citing the juror's religious reluctance to judge others. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the ruling, finding no purposeful racial discrimination.

December 15, 2017Favorable on Impartiality

Source: nebraska.gov

In the Nebraska State Bar Association's voluntary lawyer survey, 93.26% of respondents who rated Dougherty favored retaining him. His legal-reasoning rating was 5.1 out of 6, and his freedom-from-bias rating was 5.2.

July 27, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nebar.com

Dougherty denied John Parks Sr.'s requests to dismiss a double-murder case over trial delays and to restrict DNA evidence. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the resulting convictions.

September 5, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty convicted Amy Nejezchleb of writing a $5,817.89 bad check and imposed two years of probation. The appeals court upheld that sentence, citing supervision needs despite a possible error in his timing rationale.

June 17, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty denied Cordell Stewart's request to overturn his conviction after hearing testimony about his lawyer's trial strategy. The appeals court upheld his findings and denial.

March 4, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty reversed a county judge's construction-contract judgment using a contract issue neither party raised. Nebraska's Supreme Court reversed his decision because the record did not establish plain error.

January 17, 2025Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty entered a $4,525.77 verdict for Millard Gutter against Farmers Mutual. The appeals court reversed and ordered dismissal because the contractor lacked the assigned right to bring the insurance claim.

June 6, 2024Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty denied David J. Coleman's requests for hearings to challenge his child-abuse and gun convictions. The appeals court upheld the denials because the plea record contradicted his claims about sentencing advice.

January 2, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty denied a contempt request in Graves v. Graves after a mother claimed an adult child's tax exemption. The appeals court upheld his finding that she relied on tax advice rather than deliberately defying an order.

December 19, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty denied Michael Coleman's request for a new hearing after his shooting conviction. The appeals court upheld the decision because his claims lacked specific facts or conflicted with the trial record.

August 8, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty kept joint custody in Rowlette v. Brown and removed the father's final decision power. The appeals court upheld those decisions but reversed added school-night visits because of the children's long commute.

May 11, 2023Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty instructed Marlon Miranda Jr.'s murder jury to consider his words, acts, and surrounding circumstances when deciding intent. Nebraska's Supreme Court found those instructions proper and upheld the convictions.

January 27, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty sentenced Austin Williams to 40 to 45 years for sexually assaulting a child, with concurrent terms for other offenses. The appeals court upheld his trial rulings and sentences.

October 5, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty dismissed property-division and reimbursement claims in Humphrey v. Smith without trial. Nebraska's Supreme Court reinstated the property-division claim because ownership and loan forgiveness remained disputed, while upholding the reimbursement denial.

May 27, 2022Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty denied Arthur Simpson's request for another hearing after his robbery convictions. The appeals court upheld the denial because his claims were barred, lacked supporting facts, or conflicted with the record.

May 18, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty dismissed Bogue v. Gillis, a medical-negligence lawsuit filed nearly three years after surgery. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the dismissal because later treatment did not restart the two-year filing period.

April 22, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty dismissed Scroggins v. Mosbrucker's custody case after deciding Idaho was the more suitable court. The appeals court upheld his review of the child's location, evidence, and family circumstances.

March 23, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty sat with Nebraska's Supreme Court for oral arguments about a Black Hills natural-gas application. He replaced Justice Jonathan Papik, who had recused himself.

March 1, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nebraskajudicial.gov

Dougherty tried competing claims between VKGS and Planet Bingo separately. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the trial rulings but reversed interest charged before all claims had reached a final judgment.

August 13, 2021Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty divided marital property in Finch v. Finch without valuing some insurance policies and personal belongings. The appeals court corrected the payment between spouses to $74,378 while upholding other property values.

May 18, 2020Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty moved Nicholas C.'s knife-assault case to juvenile court, citing treatment needs, public safety, and prospects for rehabilitation. The appeals court upheld the transfer.

March 31, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty dismissed Milmar Food Group's insurance-contract case because he considered New York a better forum. The appeals court reversed because New York had already rejected the lawsuit.

December 26, 2019Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty denied Daejerron Valentine's request to exclude evidence from a traffic stop and vehicle search. The appeals court upheld the ruling because the window-tint stop and marijuana-based search were lawful.

October 29, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty denied requests for a mistrial and new trial after an $800,000 medical-negligence verdict in Anderson v. Babbe. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the rulings and judgment.

October 4, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty refused requested findings about children seeking special immigrant status because they lived safely with their mother. The appeals court reversed, requiring the findings or an explanation of missing evidence.

March 12, 2019Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty held an unrecorded child-support hearing in Olander v. McPhillips. The appeals court reversed the support change and a travel arrangement that lacked evidence, while upholding other custody provisions.

March 6, 2019Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty denied Avery Tyler a hearing to challenge his murder conviction and his lawyer's work. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the denial because the claims lacked sufficient facts or conflicted with the record.

October 19, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty allowed prosecutors to remove the only Black prospective juror in Stanley Wofford's trial, citing the juror's religious reluctance to judge others. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the ruling, finding no purposeful racial discrimination.

December 15, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nebraska.gov

Dougherty denied Dominique Hairston's new-trial request based on claims of juror and prosecutor misconduct in a shooting case. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld that decision and the convictions.

December 1, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty denied Devan Ross a hearing to challenge his shooting convictions. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the decision because renewed constitutional claims were barred and counsel was not required to invent a novel argument.

June 16, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty imposed prison terms of 45 to 50 years for a gun offense and 19 to 20 years for manslaughter on Michael Walker III. The appeals court upheld their lengths but removed duplicated jail credit.

January 17, 2017Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty declined to end Armando Garibo's sexual-assault case after the victim recanted at trial. The appeals court upheld the ruling because other evidence supported submitting the case to the jury.

November 22, 2016Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty dismissed the Barnes family's motorcycle-insurance claim without trial. Nebraska's Supreme Court reversed because a factual dispute remained about whether the insurer properly mailed its cancellation notice.

August 12, 2016Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty refused Laron Jones' proposed instruction on identifying someone of another race in a murder trial. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the refusal because the record did not support that instruction.

April 28, 2016Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty rejected Corey Wells' request to change a completed sentence through an order for correcting clerical errors. The appeals court upheld the denial because that process did not authorize a new sentence.

December 29, 2015Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty reopened Steven Goracke's railroad-injury lawsuit after his lawyer failed to receive the dismissal notice. The appeals court upheld the decision, finding good cause and no earlier dismissals.

October 9, 2015Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty dismissed Synergy4's claim over Pinnacle Bank's oral promise to lend money. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the judgment because the law required that lending agreement to be written.

February 27, 2015Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty enforced custody orders through contempt in Cohrs v. Bruns; the appeals court upheld those sanctions. The same litigation produced an earlier reversal of his child-support calculation.

February 18, 2015Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty refused to exclude Corey Knutson's phone-billing records obtained by prosecutors. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the ruling because obtaining those records did not violate the Fourth Amendment.

August 15, 2014Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty upheld a county judge's denial of $56.06 in court costs after a debtor paid her bill. Nebraska's Supreme Court reversed because the collection company was entitled to those costs by law.

May 22, 2014Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty rejected Samuel Q. Smith's conviction challenge as filed after the one-year deadline. Nebraska's Supreme Court upheld the ruling and rejected counting delivery to prison staff as court filing.

June 14, 2013Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty ended a father's child-support payments to offset travel costs in Pearson v. Pearson. Nebraska's Supreme Court sent the case back for required calculations and review of the children's interests.

April 12, 2013Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty convicted Gavin Lawless of felony shoplifting based on clothing price tags. The appeals court reversed the felony judgment because the tags did not prove market value and ordered misdemeanor sentencing.

April 10, 2013Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty dismissed Julio Chojolan's request to withdraw a guilty plea because he had finished his sentence. Nebraska's Supreme Court reversed, finding the immigration-warning law still allowed the request.

October 24, 2012Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: cases.justia.com

Dougherty represented Lisa Bohbot and her husband's estate in an appeal seeking fire-insurance coverage. The appeals court upheld Allstate's denial of coverage.

October 12, 2010Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: case-law.vlex.com