He was also a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court until 2005.

He received a Juris Doctor from University of Illinois College of Law in 1956.

[3] Baker was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on August 9, 1978, to a seat vacated by Judge Henry Seiler Wise on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois.

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 from May 18, 1995 to May 18, 2005, having been appointed by Chief Justice William Rehnquist.