Laurie Smith Camp, Nebraska’s senior judge for the United States District Court, passed away on September 23 at the age of 66.

Before Smith Camp became the first woman to be appointed as U.S. district judge in Nebraska, she was the state’s first female deputy attorney general in charge of criminal matters. She became the chief judge for the District of Nebraska in 2011 and held that position until assuming senior judge status in 2018. In 2013, she wrote the foreword for Orville D. Menard’s book River City Empire (Bison Books, 2013). Last year, Smith Camp was elected as the 2020-21 president of the Omaha Bar Association.

Her compassion, professionalism, and leadership won the favor of her colleagues from both sides of the bench and political spectrum. May she rest in peace.