University of Nebraska College of Law, Juris Doctor with Distinction - 1994 

Nebraska Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Arts – 1991 (English major, Philosophy minor)  

United States Supreme Court – 2004 

Supreme Court of the State of Nebraska - 1994 

United States District Court of Nebraska - 1994 

AV Preeminent Rating - Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review since 2012 

Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers since 2012 

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2008

• Fellow (2008 to Present)

• Board of Governors Representative (2019-Present)

• Professionalism & Collegiality Committee - Chair (2019-2023)

• National Test Committee (2011-2012)

• Membership Committee (2009-2011)

American Bar Foundation Fellows since 2015 

American Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division 

• Winner of 2004 ABA Meritorious Service Project Award 

• Star of the Year (2003-2004)

Great Plains Super Lawyers – 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

• Top 10 Nebraska Super Lawyers 2024 and 2025

International Academy of Family Lawyers since 2020 

Best Lawyers in America – 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 

• Lawyer of the Year in Family Law - Lincoln 2020, 2022

Chambers & Partners - Band 1: Family/Matrimonial: High Net Worth since 2022

American Law Institute since 2014 

Nebraska Mediation Association 

University of Nebraska College of Law 

• Order of the Barristers (1994) 

• Allen Moot Court Board (1992-1994) 

American Bar Association (2000-present)

• Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary (2020 to 2021) 

  • Special Advisor (Presidential Appointment) 

• Nebraska State Delegate (2011 to 2020) 

  • Elected by ABA members statewide to serve as the one State Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates 

• Nebraska State Bar Association Delegate (2002-2011, 2020-Present)

  • Elected by the NSBA House of Delegates to serve as one of two Association Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates 

• Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service 

  • Liaison to Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section (2012-2013) 

• Young Lawyers Division (2000-2004)   

  • Special Projects (Public Service) Coordinator (2003-2004) 

  • District 19 (Iowa and Nebraska) Representative (2001-2003) 

• Family Law Section (2008 to Present) 

  • Vice Chair Taxation Committee (2009-2012) 

• Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section (2004 to Present) 

  • Chair of Law in Public Service Committee (2012-2014) 

  • Chair of Solo and Small Firm Committee (2007-2009) 

  • TIPS NOW! Fellow (2005-2007) 

  • Membership Committee (2012-2013) 

  • Law in Public Service Committee (2007 to Present) 

  • Task Force on Outreach to Young Lawyers (2006-2008) 

  • Task Force on Outreach to Law Students (2009-2010) 

  • Member of Standing Committee on Ethics and Professionalism (2013-2014, 2020-2022, 2022-2023) 

• House of Delegates Committee on Technology and Communications (2010-2012) 

  • Vice-Chair (2011-2012) 

• Youth at Risk Advisory Commission (2012 to 2013) 

• House of Delegates Select Committee (2012 to 2017) 

• House of Delegates Nominating Committee (2011-2020) 

  • Steering Committee (2014 to 2018) 

Nebraska State Bar Association

• President (2014-2015) 

  • Elected statewide by NSBA members  

• Executive Council (1997-1998, 2002 to Present) 

• Family Law Section (2007 to Present) 

  • Chair (2008–2010) 

• House of Delegates (2000 to Present) 

  • Chair (2008–2009) 

• Judicial Resources Committee 

  • Chair (2008–2009) 

• Rules and Bylaws Committee

  • Chair (2001-2006) 

• Annual Meeting Committee (1998–2013) 

  • Chair (1998, 2009) 

• Young Lawyers Section (1994-2004)

  • Chair (1997-1998) 

  • Executive Committee (1996-2001) 

• The Nebraska Lawyer 

  • Issue Editor (2004-2012) 

• Insurance Committee   

• Volunteer Lawyers Project 

  • Legal Services Campaign Committee   

  • Silent Partner Committee   

  • Volunteer Lawyer at Pro Se Clinic “Self Help Center”   

  • Barristers Ball Committee (2009-2011) 

• Nebraska Lawyers Foundation Board (2008-2009) 

  • Vice President 

• Juvenile Indigent Defense Grant Proposal Advisory Committee (2008-2010) 

• Legislation Committee (2010 to Present) 

• Ways and Means Committee (2001-2003) 

• Budget and Planning Committee (2002-2003) 

• Criminal Practice and Procedure Committee (2000-2006)

Nebraska State Bar Association Leadership Academy

• Presenter (2010, 2011, 2012, 2023, 2024, 2025)

Nebraska State Bar Foundation

• Mock Trial Project

  • Coordinator for Lancaster County (1997-1999)

  • National Judge (1999) 

  • Local Judge (various years) 

Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court

• President (2002-2003) 

• Innkeeper (2004 to Present) 

United States Federal District Court

• Merit Selection Committee for United States Magistrate (2009) 

Nebraska Supreme Court

• Access to Justice Committee

  • Commissioner (2017 to 2021) 

• Civil Justice Reform Committee (2019 to present) 

• Pro Se Litigation Committee (2006-2011)

  • Chair - Limited Scope Representation Subcommittee  

• Committee on Inquiry for District One (2007 to 2013) 

  • Chair (2013) 

• Judicial Nominating Commission

  • Supreme Court, First District, Alternate (2013-2017)

  • Court of Appeals, First District (2009-2013)

  • District Court, Third District (2019-2027)

  • County Court, Third District (1996-2001) 

National Conference of Bar Presidents

• Executive Council (2016 to 2019) 

• Program Committee (2017 to 2018) 

• Communications Committee (2017 to 2019) 

  • Chair (2018-2019) 

Lincoln Children's Museum

• Board of Directors (2010 to 2015) 

  • President (2013-2014)

• Endowment Committee (2014 to Present)

Lincoln Children’s Museum Board of Directors 

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church  

Trinity Infant and Child Care Center  

YMCA Youth Sports - Volunteer Coach 

YMCA Youth Sports - Site Supervisor/Referee  

Nebraska One Volleyball - Assistant Coach 

People’s City Mission - Volunteer and Contributor 

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - Volunteer  

100s of Women 

United Way – Tocqueville Society 

Lincoln Community Foundation 

Law Day in Lincoln teaching Rule of Law to High School Students 

Preparing High School Juniors from Cesar Chavez Charter School on Public Policy in Washington DC for Internship Interview  

Free Dog and Cat Vaccination Clinic for Washington DC Ward 8 residents  

Food and Cash Drive for Tarrant Area Food Bank in Dallas, Texas  

Clean-up of Jim O’Brien Boys and Girls Club in La Quinta, California  

Free Legal Clinic and Book Drive at Trident Literacy Association  

Donation sorting and packing soup bags at New Orleans Second Harvest Food Bank  

Shelter Clean up at YWCA Angeline Center for Homeless Women in Seattle, Washington  

Conflict Resolution Interactive Program for middle school in Toronto, Canada 

Volunteer at Self-Help Center with pro se litigants Clerk of District Court’s office, Lincoln, NE