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Kentucky State Courts Administrative Director Laurie K. Givens to join National Center for State Courts
Williamsburg, Va. (April 12, 2023) – The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has hired Kentucky State Courts Administrative Director Laurie K. Givens as its vice president for court consulting services.
Givens, who has served as the administrative director for the Kentucky unified court system since 2009, will begin her new position on June 16. As vice president, she will provide expert support across areas of court services including civil, criminal, family, behavioral health, guardianship, and housing.
“We are excited to have Laurie Givens join NCSC,” said NCSC President Mary C. McQueen. “For many years, we have had the pleasure of working with her on a number of national projects and initiatives and are now fortunate to call her one of our own. She brings tremendous knowledge and experience to this position, and I am confident her innovation and enthusiasm will benefit courts for many years to come.”
In Kentucky, Givens has been responsible for the administrative arm of the branch’s 406 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks and 3,400 non-elected employees. 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.
“I am honored to join the talented team at NCSC and continue my career working for state courts and supporting the mission of judicial branches across the country,” Givens said. “I believe in collaborative leadership and team building to create innovative solutions to today’s challenges in our court systems. Within each challenge is an opportunity to ensure urban and rural courts provide equal justice for all.”
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. She earned a bachelor’s degree and juris doctor from the University of Kentucky.