Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman, a former attorney at Kutak Rock, will retire on October 31, 2025. She was the first woman to serve on the Nebraska Court of Appeals and Nebraska Supreme Court. 

After earning her law degree from Columbia Law School in 1973, Miller-Lerman joined Kutak Rock in 1976 as an associate and became a partner within four years while raising her two children as a single mother. As a part -time attorney, she challenged expectations in the legal profession and opened doors for women just like her. 

In 1992, Miller-Lerman became the first woman to be appointed to Nebraska’s newly created Court of Appeals, and in 1998, she became the first woman on Nebraska’s highest court where she served with distinction for over 25 years.

“We are proud that Justice Miller-Lerman began her journey here at Kutak Rock,” said Debbie Ruskin, managing partner of the firm’s Washington D.C. office. “Since its founding, Kutak Rock has recognized that talent comes in many forms no matter what an individual’s barriers may be. We are so grateful that Lindsey was able to begin her journey here and that through her career she redefined what leadership in law looks like.”

Here is an inside look at Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman’s fruitful career:

• 1968: Earned Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with honors from Wellesley College
• 1973: Obtained Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School
• 1976: Joined Kutak Rock 
  
  • 1976-1979 associate
  • 1980-1992 partner
• 1992: Appointed as a judge in the newly formed Nebraska Court of Appeals and was the first woman to serve on a court higher than the district court
• 1995- 1998 – Became Chief Judge 
• 1998- 2008 – Took office as a Nebraska Supreme Court Judge for District 2

Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman’s career stands as a testament to both excellence in law and courage in breaking new ground. From navigating life within her legal career as a single mother to serving as the first woman on Nebraska’s Supreme Court, she has created a path for many to follow.  

“It has always been a privilege for Kutak Rock to point out that Justice Miller-Lerman began and spent her years in private practice at the firm,” said Patricia Peterson, a partner in the firm’s Omaha office. “For me personally, I enjoyed the times our paths crossed in the halls of the Omaha Building and her willingness to offer advice to those of us in the earlier stages of our careers.”

As Miller-Lerman steps into retirement, her impact on the legal community and on the countless women who have seen themselves reflected in her journey is an inspiration for future leaders.