Yuba County judge has broken back, fractured ribs

Debra L. Givens, the presiding Yuba County Superior Court judge, has been transported to a Sacramento hospital, two days after she was injured in a three-car collision in Yuba City.

Givens, 47, suffered a broken back and multiple fractured ribs on Tuesday night when her vehicle was struck by a Jeep 4-by-4 driven by Mercedes Brockman, 23, according to the Yuba City Police Department.

"It appears (Brockman) was at fault," Sgt. Steve Thornton said.

Givens was listed in good condition on Thursday afternoon at UC Davis Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Neither drugs nor alcohol were factors, police said, and it is unlikely Brockman, a Yuba City resident, will be cited.

"This was a noncriminal incident," Thornton said. "Basically, she was driving too fast for conditions and was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision."

Brockman's Jeep struck Given's BMW 325 while the judge was waiting to turn onto Lynn Way, Thornton said.

The collision, which happened about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, pushed Given's car into a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Manjit Gill of Yuba City. Gill, 54, was not hurt.

Brockman complained of pain in her head, shoulder and arm. She was treated and released from Rideout Regional Medical Center, authorities said.

Steve Konishi, the court's chief executive officer, said Givens' cases have been heard this week by retired judges James F. Dawson and John H. Tiernan.

Givens was scheduled to take a vacation from Dec. 26-31, so plans were already in the works to cover her caseload, Konishi said.

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Givens to the Yuba County bench in 2004, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Thomas F. Mathews. Givens won her election in March of 2004, but the governor's appointment allowed her to fill the vacancy early.

Givens' assignments include drug court, adoptions and probate, but her primary responsibilities center around civil cases. She plans to take over juvenile criminal court calendar after the new year.