PETITION SUMMARY

We, the undersigned, are calling for the immediate criminal prosecution of Judge Stephanie R. Hansen, Judge Marcena M. Hendrix, and Attorney Tara Holterhaus of Spencer Fane LLP, all of Douglas County, Nebraska. These officials have repeatedly violated state and federal laws, conspired with landlords and each other, and used their positions to retaliate against journalists, tenants, and citizens exercising their constitutional rights. Their actions are criminal—not just unethical—and must be investigated by federal authorities before the damage deepens and another tragedy like the Judge Elizabeth Crnkovich case of 2019 repeats itself.

FULL PETITION TEXT

The Nebraska judicial system—particularly in Douglas County—has become a breeding ground for unchecked criminal behavior disguised as legal authority.

Judges Stephanie R. Hansen and Marcena M. Hendrix, in collaboration with Attorney Tara Holterhaus of Spencer Fane LLP have weaponized the courts to:

Retaliate against whistleblowers, such as journalist and publisher M,A, Yah, for exposing judicial and housing injustice
Collude with landlords and attorneys to carry out illegal evictions and suppress legal appeals
Refuse to recuse themselves from cases with glaring conflicts of interest
Violate federal constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, denying due process, equal protection, and access to the courts
Issue illegal court orders and insert themselves into proceedings where they held no jurisdiction
Use the judiciary to obstruct justice, cover up misconduct, and silence dissent
And, in the case of Attorney Holterhaus, knowingly bring her cases before these judges to exploit their bias and secure favorable, unlawful outcomes—bypassing legal standards and fairness in the justice system
 

 Judicial Immunity Ends Where Criminality Begins

Once a judge or officer of the court intentionally violates the law, especially after being made aware of their misconduct, they lose the shield of judicial immunity. The actions of Judges Hansen and Hendrix were not only deliberate and repeated, but also carried out with malicious intent—often with full awareness and complicity from Attorney Tara Holterhaus. These acts constitute a pattern of conspiracy and misuse of public office to retaliate, punish, and obstruct.

THE COVER-UP: JUDGE TIMOTHY P. BURNS

When these abuses were appealed, Judge Timothy P. Burns was in position to intervene. Instead, he:

Ignored overwhelming evidence of misconduct
Refused to act, thereby allowing injustice to continue
Engaged in what appears to be a coordinated cover-up that further obstructed constitutional rights under color of law
His inaction was not passive; it was part of a broader pattern of systemic failure and protectionism within the judiciary.

WHY NOW? REMEMBER 2019

In 2019, the courts failed to act until it was too late. Judge Elizabeth Crnkovich was exposed for extreme misconduct—misconduct that had long been reported but never addressed. We cannot afford to repeat history. The time for action is now, before more lives are irreparably damaged.

WE DEMAND:

Criminal charges filed against Judges Stephanie R. Hansen and Marcena M. Hendrix and Attorney Tara Holterhaus for:

Civil rights violations (42 U.S.C. § 1983)
Abuse of judicial and legal authority
Conspiracy to obstruct justice
Retaliation against constitutionally protected speech
Misuse of public office for personal and political retaliation
A federal investigation into the Douglas County judiciary for patterns of:

Collusion with landlords and attorneys
Targeting whistleblowers, tenants, and journalists
Violating due process and blocking appeals
Systematic judicial misconduct and cover-ups
Failure of oversight by the Nebraska Judicial Qualifications Commission
We further call for:

Creation of a Citizen Judicial Review Panel in Nebraska to ensure transparency, restore public trust, and end the unchecked power of corrupted officials
 

THIS IS OUR LINE IN THE SAND

When judges and attorneys conspire to violate rights, hide behind black robes and legal titles, and retaliate against the people they’re sworn to serve—they are not above the law.

Sign this petition to demand criminal accountability and federal investigation.
We cannot afford to be silent. We cannot afford to wait.
We must act—now.