1990_10 The Daily Collegian October 1990

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FEATURES, Page 4
Hye Slarahooin
October 1990
Hye Profile: M^rvinR^wcter
■
Name: Marvin R. Baxter
Occupaooo:        Associate       Justice,
California   Supreme   Coun   (effective
January 7,1991)
Born:  January  9.   1940,  at  Fowler,
California
Marital   Status:    Married    to   Jane
Pippen Baxter since June 22,1963.  ■
Children: Laura, 23 years old,- is a
student at Stanford Law School.   Brent,
21, is an undergraduate student at U.C.
Berkeley.
The   purpose   of   my   job   is:      To
decide important legal questions and
maintain uniformity in the law.
First Job:   Heaped on the lube rack at
my father's garage.
What   I   enjoy   most   about   my
Job: Research and writing issues.
I     realized     I     wanted     to    be
involved    lo    politics    when:.      I
served as Fresno Stale Student Body
President in 1961 -62.     -
My    most ' embarrassing    moment
ever   was:       Joining   the   opposing
team's huddle after being tackled hard in
high school football.
Tbc people   who   have   hid   the
most  impact on my  life   are:     My
wife and my parents.
All      favorite      television      snow:
The Bill Cosby Show
All time   -    favorite movie:
Presumed Innocent
Favorite  Foods:     Shish  Kebob  and
pilaf.
Favorite vacation spot Kona.
Favorite     sport Fresno     State
basketball- as a spectator.
People, who  snake  me   laugh  are:
Bill Cosby and Lucille Ball.
Biggest   regret      Not  having  more
time to spend with my family. i
If    I     could    change '  one     thing
about  myself, I  would:     Be  more
outgoing.
Best gift I  ever  gave:     When my
brother and I were young boys, we
our mother a popcorn maker for
Christmas.
children. >      > j Favorite way to relax     Drive our    I*mTaost proud oft Our children.
.11958 red Corvette. Twenty   years   from   now,   I. will
Fondest
childhood
T^Tj' Biggest" pipe:    Not having the time    be: Retired from the QuUfornia Supreme
Growing up on  the fanuly. farm  m   ._™1T_"CT*-. — . r-~». -~r ,iv™,ohiu »n^„„ i;r> in
Fowler.
to restore the Corvette.
Court and thoroughly enjoying life in
Fresno.
Baxter's climb to success
By Cynthia D. Barter
Staff Writer
When Governor George Dcukmejian
was fast elected to the California State.
Assembly, Marvin R. Baxter, who was
a student at Fresno State, thought that
the prospect of someone of Armenian
anscestry being elected to such a high
level position was a dream.
The same type of dream became
nothing more than a reality for Baxter
when he was confirmed August 28 to
the California Stale Supreme Coun
becoming Ihe first San Joaquin Valley
native approved ts a justice since
1855.
Baxter was sworn into office after
a confirmation bearing by the stale
Commission of Judicial Appointments, and after. running on the
November ballot for voter approval,
will join the court's six other justices
including fellow Armenian, Justice
Armand Arabian, who joined the court
earlier this year.   Baxter's   twelve year
term will begin January 7,1991.
Professionally, Baxter's accomplishments have been a climb from his-
Fowler childhood where he grew up
with parents Ben and Margaret Baxter,
older brother Russell and
younger sister Pamela, working on the
family ranch and automobile
dealership.
Being of Armenian descent,
Baxter finds that the culture provides
him with the best of both worlds, "As
is true with.other;merttbers,of ejfefc,,
groups... we are Americans who have
a very special culture and background
to relate to," he said. He also noted
that since his background is
significantly different compared to
other members of the court, be can
better understand the interests of those
who Ive in the San Joaquin Valley.
Dcukmejian announced the
appointment of Baxter on July 28 to
fill the bench of David Eaglcson who
stated that be would leave the court hi
January. Deukmejian. who Baxter
worked for from 198348 as
appointments secretary, described
Baxter in his weekly radio address as,
"a fan- but lough judge who respects
the law and the principle of judicial
restraint."
Baxter describes his years as
appointments secretary as the
experience which led to his becoming
a judge and ultimately a high court
,justice. That' position mvojved
, managing the process under which the
governor would make appointments to
the executive and judicial branch,' said
Baxter, who added that his involvement led to his interest in the Appelate
court, which he served on since
December of 1988 in the Fresno 5th
District Coun.
Goals as a Supreme Court Justice
are nothing that Baxter can set down
as a specific agenda, but rather he aims
to,  "be as thorough and diligent as
■ .-■ .
possible." His final analysis about
his goals is ihat the. public must have
confidence in the judicial system and
he would strive to conduct himself
with that in mind. •,
According to Deukmejian's radio
address, Baxter possesses qualities
that are important to being in the
judiciary. "Justice Baxter understands
the role of judges is to fairly interpret
the law and that our judicial system
should show as much compassion for
the victims of crimes .and their
families m it dot far thi difahaaan,"-
hesaid.
Baxter listed his own opinion of
qualities that apply'to being a good
judge at any leveL These qualities
include willingness and ability to
listen, consideration to points on both
sides, resolving the issue - at hand
based on the law as it exists, and
always giving due deference to the
three branches of state gcrverruncat.
Catholicos Karekin II Visits Fresno
By Janice Capretian
Staff Writer
?.-
His Holiness Karekin JJ, Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia,
rieadquarted    in   Amelias,    Lebanon,
arrived in Fresno on Friday, June 22,
for a four day Pontifical Visit to the
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic
Church parish.
The CathoDcos was accompanied by
Archbishop Datev Sarkissian, Prelate     of     the     Western     Prelacy"-*-
His Holiness Karekin Q attending the Pontifical Banquet at Holy
Trinity Church in Fresno.   ■
His Holiness was greeted at the
church entrance by Rev. Father Hrant
Serabian, parish priest and Board of
Trustees Chairman Marvin Caprelian
and members ofthe community.
This is His HoHness's second
visit to Fresno in the last two years.
His Holiness is the spiritual leader
of about 175,000 Armenian in
California He is the spiritual head of
churches in the Middle East as well.
Armenians in Lebanon have been
suffering from the current war between
Christian   factions   in   Fpst   Beirut
More than 20   bombs have fallen on
^ the    Catholicosates's    building    and
jf grounds causing havoc in the lives of
9 the brotherhood and seminarians.
<**■       In his speech to the congregation,
s. His  Holiness spoke of ihe  160,000
5 Armenians  in  East   Beirut   with   no
J electricity,   no      running   water,   no
6 schools, no place to work, and little
money- to  purchase  food  and  other
? necessities.
§ On Saturday morning, June 23, a
** pilgrimage to the Tehlirian Monument
at the Masis Ararat Cemetary , topped
off the days activities. An estimated
two hundred people were present.
His Holinesss spoke to the crowd
about the living spirit of Soghomon
Tehlirian.    It was Tehlirian who shot
and lolled Talafct Pasha, the key figure
in the Ottoman government responsible for ihe Armenian Genocide of
1915. After Tehlirian was squirted in
Germany, he moved to Fresno where he
spent the rest of his life.
Later in the afternoon, Catholicos Karekin n, visited The California
Artnenian Home. He loured the home
and met and talked with the elderly
people.
A Pontifical Banquet was held in his
honor In Ihe church hall on Saturday,
June'23.
All proceeds from the banquet went as
a donation for the Armenian people of
Lebanon.
Sunday, June 24, the Divine
Liturgy was alebfatcd by the Very
Rev. Papken Charian. His Holiness
gave the days sermon both in Armenian and in English. He used the Gospel
theme of the dayvfrom Matthew 7:21.
"For where your heart is, there your
heart will be also."
That evening a private recepton
was held at the Armenain Cultural
Faindation in Sunnyside, Fresno.
Members of Church aid organizations,
board of trustees members, corn-
See CATHOLICOS, Pg. 6