There is hereby created the Judicial Resources Commission consisting of: (1) Four judges, including one district court judge, one county court judge, one separate juvenile court judge, and one Justice or judge of the Supreme Court, all of whom shall be appointed by the Supreme Court; (2) one member of the Nebraska State Bar Association from each of the six judicial districts prescribed in Article V, section 5, of the Constitution of Nebraska who shall have practiced law in this state for at least ten years and who shall be appointed by the Executive Council of the Nebraska State Bar Association; and (3) one citizen from each of the six judicial districts prescribed in Article V, section 5, of the Constitution of Nebraska appointed by the Governor and one additional citizen who shall be appointed at large, none of whom shall be (a) a justice or judge of the Supreme Court or a judge of any other court, active or retired, (b) a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, or (c) an immediate family member of any person listed in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this subdivision. The Justice or judge of the Supreme Court serving on the commission shall also serve as chairperson of the commission. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The commission shall act by a vote of the majority of its members.

The term of office of each member of the Judicial Resources Commission shall be six years. In the event of a vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original member was appointed, and the individual so appointed shall serve for the balance of the original term. Any member of the commission shall be eligible for reappointment for an additional term without regard to the number of years that such individual has served as a member of the commission.

Members of the Judicial Resources Commission shall be reimbursed for expenses as provided in sections 81-1174 to 81-1177.

In the event of the death, retirement, resignation, or removal of a district, county, or separate juvenile judge or the failure of a district, county, or separate juvenile judge to be retained in office or upon the request of a majority of the members of the Judicial Resources Commission, the commission shall, after holding a public hearing, determine whether a judicial vacancy exists in the affected district or any other judicial district or whether a new judgeship or change in number of judicial districts or boundaries is appropriate. If the commission determines a vacancy exists in a district or county court district, the commission may also make a recommendation to the Supreme Court of the site for a primary office location. The public hearing may include virtual conferencing or, if the judicial workload statistics compiled pursuant to section 24-1007 indicate a need for a number of judges equal to or greater than the number currently authorized by law, the commission may conduct a hearing by telephone conference. If a telephone conference is used, a recording shall be made of the telephone conference and maintained by the commission for at least one year, and the commission shall only determine whether a judicial vacancy exists in the affected district and make no other determinations.

By December 15, 1995, and each year thereafter, the Judicial Resources Commission shall hold a hearing to determine whether (1) a new judgeship is appropriate in any judicial district or a reduction in judgeships is appropriate in any judicial district or (2) the judicial district boundaries or the number of judicial districts should be changed for the district or county courts. The commission shall also examine current caseload statistics and make any appropriate recommendations for the more balanced use of existing judicial resources. The State Court Administrator shall provide adequate administrative support and information as requested by the commission. A report of this hearing and any recommendations shall be filed by the commission with the Legislature, the Governor, and the Supreme Court on or before December 31 of each year. The report submitted to the Legislature shall be submitted electronically.

(1) The Judicial Resources Commission's determination of whether a judicial vacancy exists or a new judgeship, a reduction in judgeships, a change in number of judicial districts or boundaries, or the reallocation of a judgeship from a district, county, or separate juvenile court in one judicial district to a district, county, or separate juvenile court in another judicial district is appropriate pursuant to section 24-1204 or 24-1205 shall be based upon (a) its analysis of judicial workload statistics compiled pursuant to section 24-1007, (b) whether litigants in the judicial district have adequate access to the courts, (c) the population of the judicial district, (d) other judicial duties and travel time involved within the judicial district, and (e) other factors determined by the Supreme Court to be necessary to assure efficiency and maximum service. The State Court Administrator shall provide adequate administrative support and information as requested by the commission.

(2) After making a determination, the commission shall report the results electronically to the Legislature and recommend any legislative changes which are needed. If no changes in existing law are needed and none are recommended by the commission, no legislative action shall be necessary to fill any judicial vacancy determined to exist. The Legislature shall not create a new judgeship unless the commission recommends the creation of a new judgeship in its report. If legislative action is required but none is taken in the first legislative session commencing after receipt of the report by the Legislature, the commission shall hold another hearing on the matter and shall determine whether a judicial vacancy exists or again recommend legislative changes to the Legislature in its report.