Magistrate Judge SUSAN PARADISE BAXTER was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on September 20, 1956. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from The Pennsylvania State University in 1978, her Master of Education Degree from Temple University in 1980, and her Juris Doctor Degree from Temple University School of Law in 1983. She taught music inthe Wallingford-Swarthmore School District for four years prior to receiving her law degree. She began the practice of law in Washington, D.C., at the firm of Cole, Raywid and Braverman, now Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where she was made a partner in 1989. Her practice consisted of commercial litigation, antitrust litigation and contracts. She taught music inthe Wallingford-Swarthmore School District for four years prior to receiving her law degree. She began the practice of law in Washington, D.C., at the firm of Cole, Raywid and Braverman, now Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where she was made a partner in 1989. Her practice consisted of commercial litigation, antitrust litigation and contracts. After returning to Pennsylvania in 1992, she served as the Court Solicitor for the Erie County Court of Common Pleas. She took the oath of the office of United States Magistrate Judge on January 20, 1995. She became the Chief Magistrate Judge in June of 2005. In 1996, she was elected the Director-At-Large of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association. As a member of the executive board, she regularly attended the Advisory Committee meetings in Washington, D.C., of the Administrative Office of the Courts pertaining to magistrate judges. She served in this capacity for five years. She has also addressed her colleagues at educational seminars around the country. In 1998, then-Governor Ridge appointed her to the new Pennsylvania Commission for Women, where she served for three years. She serves as a member of the Erie County Bar Association's Board of Directors, and as a Master in the Northwest Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Inns of Court. She is married to Donald L. Baxter, Jr., M.D., and has two children.
| Types | Person, Public Official, Lawyer |