A judge who presided over some memorable Villages court cases has gotten a promotion.
Gov. Rick Scott has announced the appointment of Lake County Judge James Baxley to the Fifth Circuit Court bench.
The 49-year-old Eustis resident has served as a county judge for the past eight years. He was previously a partner at Hatfield and Baxley P.A. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from the University of Florida College of Law. Baxley fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mark A. Nacke.
While on the Lake County bench, Judge Baxley heard numerous cases involving Villagers, including the case of a line dancer who slugged a woman on the dance floor at Spanish Springs Town Square and a Villager accused of attacking a woman in a seat-saving dispute, also at Spanish Springs Town Square.