Harold A. Baker

I had a case before Judge Baker in which the University of Illinois was a plaintiff. He is an undergraduate and law school alumnus of the University of Illinois, and at the time of the case he was also a contributing member of the U of I Alumni Association and an adjunct instructor at the U of I Law School, yet he did not recuse himself. He is well-trained to avoid reversals and thus rarely rules on objections during examination of witnesses, preferring the inscrutable response "ask another question."

Judge Baker is probably the most knowledgeable federal judge sitting on a District Court in Illinois. He can be tough on attorneys but is, without question, fair.

Technically an OK judge, but in the two week trial I had before him several years ago he was unfair and biased beyond words. Unfortunately, I have never, to this day, figured out what drove his partiality in the case. Absolutely atrocious behavior for a judge. Even the courtroom personnel saw it and apologized to our team in private conversations. Having clerked for another Carter appointee who is the most meticulously fair judge imaginable, Judge Baker left me scratching my head what Carter was thinking when he appointed him.