Appointed to the bench in 2002, Judge John Baxter receives outstanding evaluations from survey respondents, scoring well above the average of his justice court peers in all survey categories. In addition to his regular duties, Judge Baxter serves as presiding judge for the Salt Lake City Homeless Court and Veterans Court. In this capacity, he receives high praise from survey respondents for effectively communicating with disadvantaged, disabled, and mentally ill individuals. Respondents report that Judge Baxter runs his courtroom with both efficiency and compassion, exhibiting a sometimes stern but never harsh demeanor. From a list, survey respondents choose 95% positive adjectives to describe him. Courtroom observers, also very positive, note Judge Baxter’s efficient, courteous, and focused attention on each individual appearing in his court. All observers report they would feel comfortable appearing before him. Of survey participants answering the retention question, 98% recommend retention for Judge Baxter.
The commission reviewed surveys and courtroom observation reports in addition to verifying that Judge Baxter has met all time standards, judicial education requirements, and discipline standards established by the judicial branch.
Judge John Baxter, a 1994 graduate of Golden Gate University School of Law, was appointed to the bench in 2002 and now presides over SLC’s Homeless Court and Veterans’ Court. He chaired the Utah Judicial Council’s Committee on Access to Resources for Self-represented Parties and served on both the Utah Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Professionalism and the Judicial Outreach Committee. He currently serves on the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure, the State Bar New Lawyer Training Program Committee and is a member of the Salt Lake County Criminal Justice Advisory Council. Judge Baxter also volunteered as an attorney at the Sunday homeless breakfast in Salt Lake and served in the United States Marine Corps.