Died September 23, 2020, in Omaha, NE
Federal Judicial Service
Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
Nominated by George W. Bush on September 4, 2001, to a seat vacated by William G. Cambridge. Confirmed by the Senate on October 23, 2001 by a vote of 100-0. Received commission on October 24, 2001. Sworn in November 2, 2001. Served as chief judge, 2011-2018. Assumed senior status, December 1, 2018. Service terminated on September 23, 2020, due to death.
Education
Stanford University, B.A. (with distinction), 1974
University of Nebraska College of Law, J.D., 1977
Professional Career
Private practice in Nebraska and Kansas, 1977-1980
General counsel, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, 1980-1991
Chief, Civil Rights Section, Nebraska Department of Justice, 1991-1995
Chief deputy attorney general for criminal matters, Nebraska Department of Justice, 1995-2001
Developer, Lincoln Haymarket District, 1982-2001
Honors And Awards
Nebraska Law Review (editor-in-chief), 1976-77
Nebraska State Manager of the Year, 1994
Nebraska Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee Top Award, 2001
Warren K. Urbom Mentor Award, Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court, 2004
Outstanding Contributor to Women in Law Award, NSBA Women and the Law Section, 2005
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, College of Law, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2006
University of Nebraska Foundation, President's Club, UN-L Chancellor's Society
Lifetime Fellow, Nebraska Bar Foundation
Former Memberships
Abendmusik, (president, classical music series)
Nebraska Coalition for Victims of Crime (director)
Nebraska Conference of United Church of Christ (director)
Nebraska Correctional Association (president)
Nebraska County Attorneys Association (director)
Nebraska Federal Practice Committee (chair)
Nebraska Shakespeare Festival (community board member)
Robert M. Spire American Inn of Court (president)
Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court (president)
Willa Cather Foundation (director)
Archive
Investiture, Video(link is external) (February 22, 2002)
Resolution: Senior Status (December 1, 2018)
Memorial Service, Video(link is external) (November 23, 2021)
Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference Tribute (October 2021)
Articles:
- 1976: Applying Due Process to Gag Rules and Orders, 55 Neb. L. Rev. 427 (not a link)
- 1977: Accretion and Avulsion: The Battle of Blackbird Bend, 56 Neb. L. Rev. 814 (not a link)
- 1997: Why Nebraska Needs Prison Litigation Reform, 76 Neb. L. Rev. 781 (reprinted in Nebraska Lawyer, October 1998)
- September, 2000: Lawyers in Willa Cather's Fiction, Nebraska Lawyer
- March, 2000: Speaking in Complete Sentences, Nebraska Lawyer
- April, 2001: When Clerks of the District Court Had Real Power: Robert Smith's Omaha, 1908-1950, Nebraska Lawyer
- 2013: Foreword for River City Empire: Tom Dennison's Omaha, by Orville D. Menard (not a link)
- February, 2019: Judging a Book: Smith Camp Reviews 'Echo Of Its Time'
Audio:
- September 18, 2020: Radio interview on 9/21/2020 about the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Speeches:
- 2008: Law Day
- 2012: New Lawyers
- 2012: OBA Memorial Program
- Naturalization Speech
Videos:
- October 2020: POWER Act CLE(link is external) (Presentation dedicated to the late Judge Laurie Smith Camp)
- September 21, 2020: Remarks on the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg(link is external)
- August, 2010: Consider This - Jury Selection in Nebraska's Federal Court(link is external)
- September 19, 2010: Nebraska State Historical Society Lecture ("Women's Rights: Fast Forward for Fifty Years")(link is external)
- October 26, 2013: TEDx Talk ("Wolves and Brownies")(link is external)
- February 5, 2015: Carol Rogers KPAO Interview(link is external)