Harold A. Baker
Encyclopedia
Harold Albert Baker 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.
, 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.
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.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois serves the residents of forty-six counties from its four courthouses...
, with chambers in Urbana, Illinois
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....
. He became a judge in 1978 by way of nomination by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, then moved to from the old United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois is a former federal district court for the state of Illinois. The court was established March 3, 1905, by 33 Stat. 992. The Northern and Southern Districts had been established February 13, 1855...
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
United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
The United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is a U.S. federal court authorized under , . It was established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 . The FISC oversees requests for surveillance warrants against suspected foreign intelligence agents inside the United...
until 2005.
Life before the bench
Baker attended Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, then received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
in 1951. He was in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1951 to 1953, obtaining the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. He received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from University of Illinois College of Law in 1956.
He was in private practice of law in Champaign, Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
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
United States President's Commission on CIA activities within the United States
The U.S. President's Commission on CIA activities within the United States was set up under President Gerald Ford in 1975 to investigate the activities of the Central Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies within the United States...
in 1975.
Judicial career
Baker was nominated by President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
on August 9, 1978, to a seat vacated by Henry S. Wise on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois is a former federal district court for the state of Illinois. The court was established March 3, 1905, by 33 Stat. 992. The Northern and Southern Districts had been established February 13, 1855...
. Baker was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
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
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois serves the residents of forty-six counties from its four courthouses...
on March 31, 1979. In the Central District he served as chief judge from 1984 to 1991, and assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on October 4, 1994.
Baker was on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
The United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is a U.S. federal court authorized under , . It was established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 . The FISC oversees requests for surveillance warrants against suspected foreign intelligence agents inside the United...
until May 18, 2005. FISC judges usually serve seven-year terms.
External links
- Judges Testimony at Senate FISA Hearing: The Transcripts — transcripts of several former FISC judges, including Baker, in front of the Senate Judiciary CommitteeUnited States Senate Committee on the JudiciaryThe United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...