CCJ Directory

Givens previously served as director of the Administrative Office of the Kentucky Courts, where she oversaw nearly 3,400 court employees and served 406 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. She administered the $392 million Judicial Branch budget, drafts and promotes passage of legislation affecting the courts, and works with officials at the state, national and county levels. During her tenure, she has maintained a balanced judicial branch budget, revised the office’s organizational structure and improved personnel policies and salary structure to meet changing needs and demands. Givens also led sweeping efforts to update Kentucky’s court technology through statewide e-filing, online case search and new trial and appellate court case management systems.

Givens is a past president of the Conference of State Court Administrators (COSCA) and served as vice chair of the National Center for State Courts Board of Directors. She is an active member of several COSCA committees and NCSC’s Blueprint for Racial Justice steering committee. She also co-chaired the National Task Force on Fines, Fees and Bail Practices. Givens, who serves on the advisory board of The Council of State Governments’ Justice Center, previously practiced law and was executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy and a staff attorney in the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet.