Beth Baker
Beth Baker | |
|---|---|
| Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | W. William Leaphart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1961 (age 62–63) Spokane, Washington |
| Alma mater | University of Washington University of Montana |
Beth Baker (born 1961) is an American lawyer who is an associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court.[1] Elected on November 2, 2010 and sworn into office on January 3, 2011, she became the fourth woman to serve on Montana's highest bench.[2] She took the seat of the retired Justice W. William Leaphart.[2] In the 2018 election, Justice Baker was retained for another eight year term.[3]
Originally from Spokane, Washington,[4] she graduated magna cum laude in 1982 from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in Speech Communication.[1] Baker received her law degree, with high honors, from the University of Montana School of Law in 1985.[1]
Baker clerked for Judge Charles C. Lovell of the United States District Court for the District of Montana, from 1985 to 1989.[1][5] For 11 years, from 1989 to 2000, she was an Assistant Attorney General with the Montana Department of Justice.[5][1] During this time she served four years as Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General and four years as Chief Deputy Attorney General.[1][5] She left state government for private practice at the Helena, Montana law firm of Hughes, Kellner, Sullivan and Alke from 2000 to 2010.[1] While there, she was awarded the State Bar of Montana's Bousliman Professionalism Award in 2006.[4] The award honored her efforts to provide access to legal services to people with limited means.[4]
Justice Baker served for ten years on the Montana Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission.[4] As of 2024, she also serves as an ex officio director of the Montana Justice Foundation.[1]
In 2010, Baker ran against Nels Swandal for the vacated seat of Justice Leaphart. Baker was endorsed by Leaphart as his successor.[6] In her campaign, she promoted a non-partisan judiciary.[7] Even so, she was backed by left-leaning groups.[6] In contrast to Baker's adherence to non-partisanship, Swandal openly stated his conservative preference during the campaign.[7]
In 2018, Baker ran unopposed to retain her seat. She won 73% "yes" votes to the question if she should retain her seat.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Justice Beth Baker". Montana Supreme Court. 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ a b Record, ALLISON MAIER Independent. "Beth Baker sworn in to Montana Supreme Court". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
- ^ "2018 Montana Supreme Court Retain Beth Baker Election Results". USA Today. November 6, 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d Harrington, John. "Equal justice: Helena attorney honored for her efforts to provide legal services to limited-income folks". Independent Record. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Helena attorney announces bid for high court position". Billings Gazette. February 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Dennison, Mike (November 3, 2010). "Baker defeats Swandal for Supreme Court seat". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ a b Volz, Matt (October 27, 2010). "Politics seep into Montana Supreme Court race". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "2018 General Election". Montana Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
External links[edit]
Statewide political officials of Montana | ||
|---|---|---|
| U.S. senators |  | |
| State government | ||
| Senate |
| |
| House |
| |
| Supreme Court |
| |