Former Nebraska State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha has officially entered the race for Douglas County District Court clerk in 2026.

Wayne, who represented North Omaha’s District 13 for eight years before being term-limited in 2024, previously chaired both the Urban Affairs and Judiciary Committees in the Legislature. His legislative career centered on economic development and criminal justice reform, especially improvements to the state’s juvenile court system.

His campaign launch comes shortly after current clerk Crystal Rhoades announced her run for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, leaving the office open for new leadership.

Wayne said he was drawn to the clerk position because it allows him to continue serving the community while balancing family life and his private law practice. In his campaign release, he pledged to:

• Modernize court systems to improve efficiency and streamline records.

• Expand public access to court information.

• Strengthen transparency, accountability, and public trust in the justice system.

• Improve staff training and responsiveness without increasing costs to taxpayers.

“The District Court Clerk’s Office is the nerve center of our justice system,” Wayne said. “When it functions with precision and integrity, justice is served fairly and efficiently. When it doesn’t, people fall through the cracks.”

If elected, Wayne says he would bring his combined legal expertise, legislative experience, and commitment to justice reform to ensure the office delivers better service to Douglas County residents.