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Jerry W. Baxter

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Jerry W. Baxter

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Prior offices
Georgia 5th Superior Court District Atlanta Circuit

Education

Bachelor's

University of Georgia

Law

University of Georgia


Jerry W. Baxter was a judge of the Fulton/Atlanta Judicial Circuit of Georgia. He was appointed by Governor Roy E. Barnes (D) in 2000 and retired in 2016.[1]

Education

Baxter received his B.B.A. and his J.D. from the University of Georgia.[2]

Career

Elections

2014

See also: Georgia judicial elections, 2014
Baxter ran for re-election to the Fulton/Atlanta Judicial Circuit.
General: He won without opposition in the general election on May 20, 2014. [4][5]

2010

See also: Georgia judicial elections, 2010

Baxter was re-elected to the Fulton/Atlanta Judicial Circuit after running unopposed.[6][7]

Noteworthy cases

Atlanta teachers cheating case (2015)

Judge Jerry Baxter presided over the trial of the Atlanta schools cheating case. Eleven out of 12 defendants were convicted in April 2015 of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act by changing students' test scores. Prosecutors said that administrators pressured teachers by giving bonuses or threatening demotion based on the students' test scores. They also argued that due to the cheating, the students were wrongly denied federal funding for remedial education. Judge Baxter said he initially planned to reject District Attorney Paul Howard's plea deals, but changed his mind after listening to four hours of testimony by the teachers' friends and colleagues. He urged defendants to take a deal.[8]

“ I thought I had a fair sentence. Somehow, this morning it just came to me: The only reason I would send you to jail is for retribution. I think the best thing for our community and this whole sordid mess is for Paul Howard to talk to you, we enter pleas and we all go on our business and pray for these kids that got cheated.[9] ”
—Judge Jerry Baxter[8]
Two of the defendants decided to take a deal for lighter sentences, and eight did not. They claimed their innocence and did not want to give up the right to appeal. Those eight were each sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to seven years. "When you're truly innocent, there's things you'll willing to stand in front of the train for," said Tamara Cotman. She, along with Sharon Davis-Williams and Michael Pitts, received the toughest sentences: seven years in prison, 13 years of probation, 2,000 hours of community service and a $25,000 fine. Defense attorney Keith Adams said prison was not an appropriate sentence for the teachers' convictions.[10]

About two weeks later, Judge Baxter reduced the three seven-year terms to three-year terms. He said he had spent a lot of time reflecting and was not comfortable with the sentences he initially gave out. Davis-Williams expressed relief with the new sentence and her attorney said, "We are happy. We are elated that judge Baxter took the opportunity to reflect."[11]


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See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Daily Report, "Judge Jerry Baxter: '42 Years Is Enough'," October 14, 2016
  2. ↑ Martindale, "Jerry W. Baxter profile," accessed March 9, 2013
  3. ↑ Fulton Court, "Judge Jerry W. Baxter," accessed March 9, 2013
  4. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "2014 Qualifying Candidates List," accessed March 19, 2014
  5. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, “Statewide Election Results,” May 20, 2014
  6. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Non-Partisan Candidates on the November 2, 2010 General Election Ballot," archived July 24, 2012
  7. ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Superior Court Judge Race Results," accessed April 20, 2015
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Los Angeles Times, "Judge urges convicted Atlanta educators to accept deals in cheating case," April 13, 2015
  9. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  10. ↑ CNN, "Atlanta educators convicted in cheating scandal say they're innocent," April 17, 2015
  11. ↑ CNN.com, "Judge reduces sentences for 3 educators in Atlanta cheating scandal," April 30, 2015

Georgia courts

Federal courts:

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia

State courts:

Georgia Supreme Court • Georgia Court of Appeals • Georgia Superior Courts • Georgia State Courts • Georgia Business Court • Georgia Tax Court • Georgia Juvenile Courts • Georgia Probate Courts • Georgia Magistrate Courts • Georgia Municipal Courts

State resources:

Courts in Georgia • Georgia judicial elections • Judicial selection in Georgia

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