State v. Ezell

Summary

The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Ezell’s motion to disqualify the trial judge and upheld his aggregate 96-to-116-year sentence for four felony offenses arising from an officer-involved shooting. The court held that the judge’s spouse’s employment in law enforcement, without a direct personal connection to the proceeding, did not require disqualification, and that Ezell’s sentences were within statutory limits and were not an abuse of discretion or cruel and unusual punishment. The court also held that review of the disqualification ruling was proper after final judgment, notwithstanding Ezell’s earlier improper interlocutory appeal.