Sonoma County judge hit by pickup still not back on the bench

A Sonoma County judge is on the mend weeks after he was hit by a pickup while walking his dog, but he is still not ready to return to the bench, a court official said Wednesday.

Gary Nadler, 62, is recuperating from the Feb. 27 accident in his hometown of Petaluma that left him with a concussion, an injured knee, and scrapes and bruises, said Jose Guillen, Sonoma County Superior Court executive officer.

The former presiding judge will see a doctor again today to learn whether he is fit to come back. He could return to his misdemeanor courtroom in the next few weeks, Guillen said.

“Angels were watching over him,” Guillen said. “He’s really recuperating a lot faster than we thought he would.”

His absence is straining the already shorthanded court. An open judge position left by the recent retirement of Gary Medvigy still has not been filled, and a statewide demand for temporary judges is making it difficult to cover for Nadler, Guillen said.

Some criminal judges are handling multiple calendars, leading to delays in processing of cases, he said.

“We’re feeling the pinch,” Guillen said.

Nadler was struck about 6 a.m. in a crosswalk at Petaluma Boulevard South and G Street. The driver, William Emde, 71, was not cited. He told officers he saw the dog but did not initially see the man, who was carrying a flashlight, and was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting him.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 707-568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.