This year, the Nebraska State Bar Association celebrates 125 years of service to the legal profession and the people of Nebraska. Since its inception, the NSBA has been committed to supporting attorneys in every stage of their careers, and advancing the principles that form the bedrock of our legal system. Its work has helped preserve access to justice, promote high ethical standards, and uphold the rule of law—ensuring fairness, impartiality, and stability in our courts and communities.
In those 125 years, only these five women* have served as President of the NSBA. I was honored to be the fourth—and it’s hard to believe that was a decade ago. That role deepened my belief in the value of lawyers and the good they do every day. We are there in the moments that define people’s lives: helping them plan for the future, navigating crisis, and dealing with the aftermath of hard decisions or unexpected turns. Whether through legislative advocacy, courtroom representation, serving leadership roles in our communities or one-on-one guidance, lawyers serve as steady advocates and trusted problem-solvers.
*Photo from left to right: Amy Longo (front), Amie Martinez (back), Linda Crump (front), Hon. Tricia Freeman (back), Marsha Fangmeyer (front)
This anniversary is not just a look back—it’s a reaffirmation of what it means to be a lawyer in Nebraska. Each year, our Past Presidents gather to celebrate the NSBA, Nebraska lawyers and our collective history and I am rejuvenated in the work of the association. Supporting lawyers means strengthening the very fabric of our justice system. For 125 years, the NSBA has stood behind that work—and will continue to do so for generations to come.
*Photo (Back) Robert Hillis, Jason Grams, Wayne Mark, J. Scott Paul, Ken Hartman, Michael Fenner, Amie Martinez, Robert Bartle, Michael Kinney, (Middle) Amy Longo, Linda Crump, Marsha Fangmeyer, (Front) Hon. Tricia Freeman, Robert Mullin, Woody Bradford, James Rembolt, John Brownrigg, William Dittrick, Robert Grimit.
