Wendy Baxter

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Wendy Baxter

Prior offices

Michigan 3rd Circuit Court

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Education

Bachelor's

Eastern Michigan University, 1973

Law

University of Detroit, 1978

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Wendy M. Baxter was a judge of the 3rd Circuit Court (Civil Division) in Wayne County, Michigan. She was appointed to this position by Gov. Blanchard in 1986. She resigned in 2013.

Education

Baxter received her B.A. degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1973 and her J.D. degree from the University of Detroit in 1978.

Career

Prior to her judicial appointment, she was a private practice lawyer, working for General Motors, the Michigan State Court Administrator's Office and the State Appellate Defender. She was appointed to the circuit court in 1986.

She is a member of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association.

2012 election

Baxter was one of 17 candidates competing for 16 seats on the 3rd Circuit Court. Only one candidate was a non-incumbent. Baxter was re-elected with 7.14% of the vote.

See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2012

Bar association ratings

Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association

The DMBA rated candidates running for judicial office in 2012. Candidates are given one of five ratings: Outstanding, Well Qualified, Qualified, Not Qualified or No Rating.

Baxter was rated as Well Qualified.

Wolverine Bar Association

Baxter received a rating of Extremely Well Qualified from the Wolverine Bar Association.

Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission

In 2001, Baxter was questioned by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission for allegedly trying to illegally influence the outcome of a murder case and covering up her actions. The complaint accused her of contacting the lawyer of Adrian Bell in a 1995 murder case. Baxter allegedly told her clerk to tell Bell's lawyer that she believed the prosecutor had overcharged the teenager, which led the defendant's attorney to waive his right to a jury trial. She then found Bell guilty of first-degree murder. According to the complaint filed with the Judicial Tenure Commission, Bell's family was not advised of their rights, and Baxter was accused of falsifying documents.

On September 11, 2001, the Judicial Tenure Commission voted to censure Baxter.

See also

• Wayne County, Michigan

External links

• Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan website
• Third Judicial Circuit Court, "2008 Annual Report"
• Crain's Detroit Business "Judge: Detroit's school boss exceeded authority," December 6, 2010
• Hargrave-Thomas murder trial Metro Times, "Hanging by a nail," April 25, 2001
• Detroit Free Press "Pair Ordered to Stand Trial in Mutilation Case," August 17, 1982