Harold Baker (judge)

This article is about the U.S. judge. For the missionary, see H.A. Baker. For other people named Harold Baker, see Harold Baker.

Harold Albert Baker
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Incumbent
Assumed office October 4, 1994
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
In office March 31, 1979 – October 4, 1994
Preceded by	(new district)
Succeeded by	Michael P. McCuskey
Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
In office 1998 – May 18, 2005
Succeeded by	Malcolm J. Howard
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
In office 1984–1991
Preceded by	James Waldo Ackerman
Succeeded by	Michael M. Mihm
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
In office September 23, 1978 – March 31, 1979
Nominated by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Henry S. Wise
Succeeded by	(district eliminated)
Personal details
Born	1929 (age 94–95) Mt. Kisco, New York
Alma mater	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign University of Illinois College of Law

Harold Albert Baker (born 1929, Mt. Kisco, New York) is a United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, with chambers in Urbana, Illinois. He became a judge in 1978 by way of nomination by President Jimmy Carter, then moved to from the old United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois to the Central District in 1979, and became a senior judge in 1994. He was also a judge on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court until 2005.

Life before the bench

Baker attended Columbia University, then received an A.B. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1951. He was in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1953, obtaining the rank of Lieutenant. He received a J.D. from University of Illinois College of Law in 1956.

He was in private practice of law in Champaign, Illinois from 1956 to 1978, and was an adjunct faculty member of the University of Illinois College of Law from 1972 to 1978. He was senior counsel for the United States President's Commission on CIA activities within the United States in 1975.

Judicial career

Baker was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on August 9, 1978, to a seat vacated by Henry S. Wise on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois. Baker was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 22, 1978, and received his commission on September 23, 1978.

In 1978, the Eastern District and Southern District of Illinois were rearranged into the Southern District and Central District of Illinois. Baker was assigned to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois on March 31, 1979. In the Central District he served as chief judge from 1984 to 1991, and assumed senior status on October 4, 1994.

Baker was on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court until May 18, 2005. FISC judges usually serve seven-year terms.

External links

• Harold Baker at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Judges Testimony at Senate FISA Hearing: The Transcripts — transcripts of several former FISC judges, including Baker, in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee