Celebrates 22 years with courts
After eight years in her office on the third floor of the courthouse and 22 years working for Nebraska’s Fifth Judicial Circuit, Hamilton County Clerk Magistrate Angie Lewandowski is retiring as of July 31.
“I started out as a traveling records clerk and I traveled with a judge and I went to different offices and did the stenographer work in the courtroom and then I traveled and helped out in the various offices in the Fifth District,” Lewandowski said. “I think we have 10 or 11 counties in our district, and I’ve worked in just about all of them. But it’s been fun.”
Currently a resident of Central City, Lewandowski began working in Nance County, then, with the retirement of former clerk magistrate Lynne Nylander in 2015, she transferred to Hamilton County where she has worked ever since.
“This old courthouse is a challenge,” Lewandowski laughed, adding “but everybody’s wonderful to work with and we’ve got a great sheriff and the county attorney’s office. They’ve all been really good to work with. And the judges. I’ve worked for five different judges in my years of experience. It’s always a challenge, but that’s part of the job.”
“There’s been so many changes in the judicial process over the years and we have do so much on the computer where we didn’t used to do that,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski said beyond the courtroom work, the extra duties of a magistrate have kept things interesting over the years.
“You know, like doing weddings, that’s always fun,” Lewandowski said. “I’ve done a lot of different marriages and weddings and have a lot of stories from those. But most of the time, most of the people we meet are just like you and me, they just made their mistakes in their life.”
While at one time her job entailed conducting arraignments and setting bond on behalf of judges, that’s not part of the job anymore. However, magistrates do accept misdemeanor pleas and handle such matters as criminal traffic cases, civil, probate, guardianship, conservatorships, adoption and small claims.
Lewandowski said she is especially proud of the work she has done with the judicial system’s education and orientation committees.
“For over for 20 years I have helped educate new court employees on the different aspects and that I really enjoyed... going and teaching and helping people with that,” Lewandowski said. “We do a lot of online meetings with our orientation and education anymore. I mean, so many things after COVID changed to online services.”
Asked about her plans for retirement, Lewandowski replied, “my husband’s been ill for the last year so we’ll get to spend a lot more time together and I’m sure I’ll find something to do. I’m sure I won’t sit. I don’t think I’ll be sitting at home.”
Assistant Clerk Carly Noack has been appointed to serve as acting clerk magistrate beginning Aug. 1 pending the hiring of Lewandowski’s replacement.