§ 6-2003.General.

§ 6-2003 is the operating core of Nebraska’s media-coverage rules. Coverage never happens automatically — a judicial officer must authorize it in advance, except for the narrow initial-appearance carve-out discussed below, and even then only if it will not interfere with the parties’ right to a fair trial. Parties can object, though a ruling on that objection sits entirely within the judge’s discretion and cannot be appealed.

Certain participants and proceedings get special protection. A judge can deny coverage of any witness for good cause, and coverage is never allowed for the testimony of an alleged victim or witness under 19 in a case involving sexual abuse or assault. Jurors are shielded outright — no coverage of summoned or seated jurors at any point, though the return of a verdict can be covered as long as no juror is shown or recorded. A long list of proceeding types is excluded entirely, including juvenile cases, dissolution and custody hearings, adoptions, paternity cases, protection order hearings, guardianship and probate matters, trade secret cases, jury selection, and grand jury proceedings, though several of those exclusions can be waived if every party consents and the judge approves.

Initial appearances in county court criminal cases — bond settings and arraignments — get their own, more permissive rule: coverage is allowed unless the judge orders otherwise, and parties cannot object to it the way they can with other proceedings. That authorization, however, covers only that one appearance; any later proceeding needs its own request. Bench conferences, attorney work product, and equipment choices remain within the judge’s control throughout, and a judge can exclude, suspend, or terminate an individual reporter’s coverage at any time for a rule violation or a good-cause fair-trial concern, separate from any credential suspension the Public Information Office might impose administratively.