Justice David L. Baker 

  

Justice Baker, Cedar Rapids, was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2008.  

  

A life-long Iowan, Justice Baker was born in Muscatine in 1952 and grew up in Waterloo. Justice Baker attended undergraduate and law school at the University of Iowa, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1975 with Honors in Sociology and his law degree in 1979 with high honors, Order of the Coif.  

  

Following graduation from law school, Justice Baker worked in the private practice of law for 25 years where he practiced in various areas including tax and corporate to bankruptcy to litigation. As an attorney, he received an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell indicating his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. While in practice, he was involved in many professional activities. As a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, he was involved in Jury Instructions Committee, Bench/Bar Committee, and the Appellate Practice Committee where he participated in the writing of the Appellate Practice Manual. Justice Baker also served as a temporary bar examiner for 10 years. In the Linn County Bar Association, he served as a member of the Ethics and Grievance Committee. He was also a member of the Merit Selection Panel involved in the selection of the U.S. Magistrate for the Northern District of Iowa. He was the chairman of Amicus Curiae Committee for the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association. Based upon the recommendations of his peers and judges, he was inducted into the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, whose membership is limited to 250 attorneys who have displayed exceptional skills and the highest integrity. He was also involved in pro bono work through the Volunteer Lawyers Project. 

   

In 2005 Justice Baker was appointed as a district court judge for the Sixth Judicial District. He was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2006 where he served until his appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court in 2008. 

  

Since his appointment to the bench he has been a lecturer for the Iowa Bar Review School and is currently the co-chairman of the Bench/Bar Committee. He is currently a member of Mason Ladd Inn of Court. Both as a judge and an attorney, Justice Baker has been a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education programs. He has also been a participant at educational activities for law students at both the University of Iowa and Drake law schools. Justice Baker continues to be a member of the Linn County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. 

  

Justice Baker is also involved in community non-legal activities. He is currently a member of the Cedar Rapids West Rotary Club where he is a past president and was chairman of the local seven-club Rotary Centennial Project Committee which built a bike trail in Cedar Rapids. He was a past president and treasurer of the Witwer Senior Center. He has been a member of various school committees and a board member of the local United Way. He was president of Elmcrest Country Club. He has been involved in competitive youth swimming. He has been a YMCA volunteer swim coach and he is currently serving as chairman of the board of review for Iowa Swimming Inc., the local swimming committee of USA Swimming.  

  

Justice Baker is married and has two daughters and currently lives in Cedar Rapids.