# ACLU clinic helps Omaha residents navigate mayoral pardon eligibility  
**Published:** 2026-06-01T18:53:19.000Z  
**Source:** [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/may-27-aclu-mayoral-pardons-clinic-helps-residents-navigate-omaha-ordinance-violations/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/aclu-clinic-helps-omaha-residents-navigate-mayoral-pardon-eligibility

An [ACLU of Nebraska](https://www.aclunebraska.org/) legal clinic at the [Heartland Workers Center](https://www.heartlandworkerscenter.org/) helped residents understand whether their past Omaha ordinance violations qualified for mayoral pardons, according to [reporting by the Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/may-27-aclu-mayoral-pardons-clinic-helps-residents-navigate-omaha-ordinance-violations/).

The clinic was organized by Schmeeka Simpson and connected attendees with ACLU attorneys Jennifer Houlden, Carter Matt and Jamel Connor, along with law clerk Christopher Gomez, for one-on-one record reviews and assistance. Simpson said 16 people registered ahead of the event, but 10 learned they were not eligible for a mayoral pardon, highlighting confusion about which offenses qualify.

The mayor is only able to pardon convictions involving violations of the Omaha City Ordinance contained in Chapter 20, which are low-grade misdemeanors like theft, prostitution, trespassing and many others. Mayors cannot pardon state offenses, and the city typically requires five years to pass without law enforcement contact.

The evening operated as a working clinic, with attorneys reviewing individual records, explaining options and discussing whether other remedies might be available, while attendees shared concerns about how past offenses continued to affect employment opportunities, even in cases where records had been set aside.

According to Jamel Conner, an attorney with the ACLU of Nebraska, mayoral pardons help boost the economy by opening the door to better-paying jobs, noting that "people with jobs have higher self esteem because of our culture. And so we see that as a sign of doing well. So I think that it helps people be ingrained in their community. It helps them feel a sense of belonging."

From January 1, 2020 to November 2025, Omaha pardoned more than 60 residents for misdemeanor convictions. The mayor's office says it usually takes about one month to complete the pardon process before applicants receive the next steps.

## Sources

- [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/may-27-aclu-mayoral-pardons-clinic-helps-residents-navigate-omaha-ordinance-violations/)
- [ACLU of Nebraska mayoral pardons clinic event page](https://www.aclunebraska.org/event/mayoral-pardons-clinic/)
- [City of Omaha pardon request form instructions](https://mayors-office.cityofomaha.org/city-of-omaha-pardon-request-form-instructions/)
- [3 News Now coverage of Omaha's mayoral pardon clinic](https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/omahas-mayoral-pardon-clinic-helps-residents-with-past-convictions-move-forward)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Flatwater Free Press, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://flatwaterfreepress.org/may-27-aclu-mayoral-pardons-clinic-helps-residents-navigate-omaha-ordinance-violations/.