Hon. J. Michael Baxley
Of Counsel, Practicing Attorney

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Judge J. Michael Baxley is a resident of Hartsville, South Carolina, and was born there on August 24, 1956. He is a son of William H. (deceased) and Merle Davis Baxley, and has three brothers - Bill, Buddy, and Tim. The Baxley Family was honored in 1985 by Governor Richard Riley as South Carolina's Family of the Year.
Mike showed an early interest in politics, serving as President of the Student Body at Hartsville High School, from which he graduated in 1974. He went on to Clemson where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with a Minor in History in 1978.
While at Clemson, Mike was active in student government and University activities, serving as a member of the Student Senate, Vice President of the Student Body, President of the Student Body, Speaker of the South Carolina State Student Legislature, and Speaker of the National Student Congress.
After graduating from Clemson, Mike worked in Washington, DC for the United States Congress as a legislative assistant, a position which he left to enroll at the University of South Carolina School of Law. After graduating in 1982, he returned to Hartsville as a partner in the firm of Driggers & Baxley, engaging in the general practice of law with an emphasis in civil litigation.
In 1986, Mike was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from District 65 which is comprised of portions of Chesterfield, Darlington, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter counties. He was elected Chairman of the Freshman Caucus by his legislative colleagues, and was appointed to the Judiciary Committee. Mike served in the Legislature for twelve years.
During that time he was privileged to receive legislator of the year awards from such diverse groups as the South Carolina Ex-POW's; the South Carolina Association of the Deaf; the NAACP Youth Division; the South Carolina Rural Water Association; and the South Carolina Mental Health Association.
Mike did not seek re-election to the legislature in 1998 and returned to private law practice in Hartsville. He was elected by the General Assembly to a resident judicial seat of the Fourth Circuit on February 8, 2000.
In his spare time, Mike enjoys kayaking, fishing, arrowhead hunting, reading, gardening and working out. He lives with his chocolate lab/boykin spaniel mix Gatsby.
Bar Admissions
- South Carolina, 1982
- U.S. District Court District of South Carolina, 1983
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1986
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina
- Juris Doctor - 05/1982
- Honors: With Honors
- Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
- Bachelor of Arts - 05/1978
- Honors: With Honors
- Honors: President of Student Body
- Honors: Vice President of Student Body
- Honors: Speaker of South Carolina State Student Legislature
- Honors: Speaker of National Student Congress
- Honors: Student Senate
- Major: Political Science
- Minor: History
- Hartsville High School, Hartsville, South Carolina
- 1974
Honors and Awards
- Legislator of the Year Awards
Professional Associations and Memberships
- South Carolina Ex-POW's
- South Carolina Association of the Deaf
- NAACP Youth Division
- South Carolina Rural Water Association
- South Carolina Mental Health Association
- South Carolina State Bar Association, Member
- Berkeley County Bar Association, Member
- Darlington County Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
Past Employment Positions
- United States Congress, Legislative Assistant
- Driggers & Baxley, Partner
- Hartsville, Private Practice Law
- South Carolina House of Representatives
- SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY, Moncks Corner, SC, General Counsel, 2014 to 2020
- SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT, Hartsville, SC, Circuit Court Judge, 2000 to 2014
- LAW OFFICES OF DRIGGERS & BAXLEY, Hartsville, SC, Managing Partner, 1982 to 2000
- SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Columbia, SC, Legislator, 1987 to 1998
- SNYDER BAXLEY RENTALS, Hartsville, SC, Owner and Partner, 1984 to 2014
Pro Bono Activities
- First Baptist Church, Hartsville, SC, Former Sunday School Teacher and Deacon
- Hartsville Red Cross, Former Member, Board of Directors
- Crimestoppers, Former Member, Board of Directors
- Christmas in April, Former Member, Board of Directors
- Butler Heritage Foundation, Former Member, Board of Directors