Danny J. Baxter

Danny J. Baxter is a Nashville criminal defense lawyer and Senior Trial Attorney at Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys who represents clients facing misdemeanor and felony criminal charges throughout Nashville, Middle Tennessee, and communities across the state. With more than four decades of combined experience in law enforcement, criminal investigations, and criminal defense litigation, Mr. Baxter brings a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and the practical realities of how criminal cases are investigated, prosecuted, and defended.

Before becoming a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Baxter served with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, where he worked in violent crime investigations, undercover narcotics operations, and patrol. He also served as a hostage and crisis negotiator, a role that required advanced training in communication, conflict resolution, and high-pressure decision-making. His law enforcement experience provides valuable insight into police procedures, criminal investigations, evidence collection, and the methods prosecutors use when evaluating and pursuing criminal charges.

For more than 25 years, Mr. Baxter has represented individuals accused of criminal offenses throughout Tennessee. His practice includes DUI and impaired driving offenses, drug crimes, assault and violent crimes, domestic violence allegations, theft offenses, weapons charges, probation violations, sex crime allegations, and other misdemeanor and felony matters. Drawing on his investigative background, Mr. Baxter carefully analyzes police reports, witness statements, forensic evidence, and law enforcement procedures to identify potential defenses and challenge weaknesses in the prosecution's case.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Baxter has represented clients at every stage of the criminal process, from investigation and arrest through trial, sentencing, appeal, and post-conviction proceedings. He has extensive experience handling Tennessee jury trials, bench trials, and appellate matters involving complex legal and evidentiary issues. Tennessee courts have also qualified Mr. Baxter as an expert in sex crimes investigations, reflecting his specialized knowledge of investigative techniques, evidentiary considerations, and the unique challenges these cases often present.

In addition to his criminal defense practice, Mr. Baxter has served in several unique roles within Tennessee's legal system, including service as a legal advisor and instructor for law enforcement personnel, liaison to prosecutors, and Special Judge in General Sessions Court. These roles expanded his experience working with law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and courts throughout Tennessee and further strengthened his understanding of the criminal justice system.
Mr. Baxter is an active member of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Nashville Bar Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, reflecting his longstanding involvement in both the legal and law enforcement communities.
At Michael & Associates, Mr. Baxter works closely with clients to evaluate the evidence, explain their legal options, and develop defense strategies tailored to the facts of each case. His background in law enforcement, criminal investigations, and courtroom advocacy allows him to approach cases from multiple perspectives while helping clients navigate some of the most challenging situations of their lives.

About Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys
Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys is a criminal defense firm with a unique model: the high-touch, personalized attention of a boutique firm, backed by the resources and collective experience of a 40+ lawyer defense team.

Every client is assigned a dedicated Senior Trial Attorney who owns the defense from intake through resolution. That attorney focuses on a specific county and court — practicing there regularly and knowing the judges, the prosecutors, and the local tendencies that shape outcomes. Cases are not rotated, reassigned, or passed to junior attorneys (the firm doesn't employ any).

Behind that lead attorney is a team of forty criminal-defense lawyers with more than 1,000 jury trials between them, including attorneys Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, ten Super Lawyers honorees, ACS-CHAL Forensic DWI Lawyer-Scientists, former prosecutors, former judges, and former law-enforcement professionals, including a former FBI agent.

That structure gives clients the 40-on-1 advantage: one senior lawyer leading your case, backed by the collective knowledge of 40+ criminal-defense attorneys. It means the prosecutor is not up against one lawyer — they're up against a brain trust.

The firm's main metric is client satisfaction, which is measured using standard CSAT surveys to every client at the conclusion of the case. The firm has achieved a 98.5% client satisfaction rate based on 1,840 survey responses. The full breakdown by case type is below:

- DWI: 97.8% CSAT (781 responses)
- Assault & Domestic Violence: 99.5% CSAT (368 responses)
- Other: 98.7% CSAT (158 responses)
- Drug Charges: 98.6% CSAT (142 responses)
- Motion to Revoke Probation: 97.8% CSAT (134 responses)
- Theft & Fraud: 100% CSAT (106 responses)
- Driving Offenses: 98.7% CSAT (75 responses)
- Weapons: 98.1% CSAT (52 responses)
- Sex Offenses: 100% CSAT (24 responses)

Data from September 2022 through May 6, 2026.

The firm's 2025 trial record was 65% favorable outcomes with a 50% outright acquittal rate. A 5.0 rating on Google. More than 1,400 five-star reviews on Google, Avvo, BBB, and Martindale, an A+ BBB rating, and combined criminal-defense experience exceeding 540 years. Attorney caseloads run well below ABA recommendations. Case reviews are free. No trial fees - ever.

Multiple Locations to Serve You Better... Austin - Dallas - Fort Worth - Houston - San Antonio - Nashville - Los Angeles - San Diego