Most voters think of the Clerk of the District Court as a record keeper. That is true, but it is only half the job. The Clerk is also the financial officer of the court. And that responsibility carries something most people never expect.

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What the Clerk Manages Financially

The Clerk collects every filing fee in every case filed in Douglas County District Court. Tracks every court cost, fine, and restitution payment. Pays collected funds to the County Treasurer. Issues fee bills with the full legal force of court judgments. See Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 33-106.01, 33-106.02. When money comes into the Clerk’s office from settlements, bonds, or judgments, strict rules apply. Funds must be deposited in insured interest-bearing accounts. See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2214.01. The Clerk also collects and maintains records of child support and spousal support payments, and the financial documentation that determines whether court-ordered obligations are met and enforced for Douglas County families. See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-364.

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The Day-to-Day Engine

But the financial functions are only part of what this office manages every single day. Every case filed. Every document stamped. Every judgment indexed. Every appeal transcript transmitted within 30 days. Every divorce reported to the state monthly. Every court session staffed by the Clerk or a duly appointed deputy, without exception. This office never stops. And it cannot afford to make mistakes. See Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-2204 through 25-2214, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1912, and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-615.

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Why Justin Wayne Is the Most Qualified Candidate on This Topic

Justin Wayne has spent more than 20 years as a practicing attorney navigating financial disputes in Douglas County District courtrooms. He knows what happens when financial records are wrong. As Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee he helped shape the legislative framework that governs these very functions. Every dollar that moves through the Clerk’s office carries the weight of someone’s life– a divorce, a child support payment, a criminal fine, a judgment. Justin Wayne understands that weight. He will manage it accordingly. Every day. Without exception.

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This is Deep Dive 3 of the Front Door of Justice education series. Follow along at Wayne4NE.com. Democratic Primary Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | Wayne4NE.com | Paid for by Wayne for District Clerk