Celebrating Rural Lawyer Julie Bear

Members spoke in a series of one-minute tributes rather than debating a bill. Representative Flood of Nebraska delivered speeches recognizing rural lawyers in his district: Julie Bear of Plattsmouth, Doug Stratton of Norfolk, Bre Flaherty (recently appointed a county court judge), and Tim Wollmer of David City, describing their legal work and service to their communities.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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4 statements

Mike Flood, NE

Republican
“I want to honor rural lawyers in Nebraska. I am especially honoring Julie Bear, a skilled lawyer from Plattsmouth who once got double-murder charges dropped for a wrongly accused client.”
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Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize an often overlooked segment of our Nation’s legal profession: rural lawyers. Across our First District and in many of our communities, rural lawyers represent the very best of the profession, selfless service, and meaningful local impact. Today, I want to highlight the remarkable work of Julie Bear of Plattsmouth, specializing in criminal defense, family law, estate planning, personal injury, and more. Julie has built a reputation that is nothing short of exceptional. Before joining her firm, she served as a public defender for Cass County. In that role, she achieved the dismissal of a double-murder charge against a court-appointed client who had been wrongly accused. She is a graduate of Creighton University School of Law. She consistently rises to the occasion and goes above and beyond for her clients. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize her accomplishments and commend her as one of Nebraska’s most skilled rural criminal defense attorneys.

Mike Flood, NE

Republican
“I want to recognize rural lawyers in Nebraska. Today I am honoring Doug Stratton of Norfolk for his legal work, including winning a major case for wrongly convicted clients.”
Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize an often- overlooked segment of our legal profession: rural lawyers. Across our First District and in communities throughout our State, rural lawyers represent the very best of the profession, selfless service, and meaningful local impact. Today, I highlight and detail the larger-than-life career of Doug Stratton of Norfolk. Doug’s focus areas include criminal defense, civil litigation, as well as domestic work. Many of you may have already heard of Doug through his breakthrough relitigation of the Beatrice Six. In sum, thanks to his belief in his clients’ wrongful conviction and new evidence, Doug was able to award the defendants nearly $30 million from the United States Supreme Court. A native of northeast Nebraska, Doug worked as a small-town lawyer after he earned his J.D. from Yale Law School. Even when big-town law firms came to him to take up cases, Doug continuously worked on behalf of rural Nebraskans. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to highlight Doug’s remarkable career and reputation.

Mike Flood, NE

Republican

Linked statement

“I want to honor rural lawyers in Nebraska, especially Bre Flaherty. She did great work as a county attorney and was recently appointed as a county court judge.”
Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an often overlooked segment of our Nation’s legal profession: rural lawyers. Across our First District and in many of our communities, rural lawyers represent the very best of the profession: selfless service and meaningful local impact. Today, I highlight the work of Norfolk’s own Bre Flaherty. Through her career at the Platte County Attorney’s Office, Bre built a strong reputation for excellence and community service, earning her appointment earlier this year as a county court judge in Nebraska’s Fifth Judicial District. Her professionalism, grit, and passion for juvenile law have all paved the way for success in serving fellow Nebraskans. Earning her J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law, she has remained engaged in giving back to the communities and the experiences that shaped her. Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to highlight Bre’s work. I remember her as a mock trial student when I was the team coach. She should be celebrated for her community service and her integrity, which continue to guide her career.

Mike Flood, NE

Republican
“I want to honor rural lawyers. Today I am recognizing Tim Wollmer, a lawyer who has served people in David City, Nebraska, for over 17 years.”
Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an often overlooked segment of our Nation’s legal profession: rural lawyers. Across our First District and in many of our communities, rural lawyers represent the very best of the profession: selfless service and meaningful local impact. Today, I highlight the distinguished career of Tim Wollmer of David City with a practice spanning family law, business matters, civil litigation, estate planning, criminal defense, and more. Tim’s integrity and steadfast commitment to the truth exemplify the vital role lawyers play in their communities. As an attorney, Tim has provided essential legal services to central and eastern Nebraska for more than 17 years, helping individuals and families navigate complex legal and financial matters. A graduate of Creighton University School of Law, Tim has earned the trust and the respect of the David City community and the surrounding areas. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Tim’s accomplishments and his service today on the House floor.

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