Born in Rocky Ford, Colorado, Babcock received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Denver in 1965 and a Juris Doctor from University of Denver Law School in 1968, and was in private practice in Rocky Ford from then until 1976.

[1] Babcock was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on June 23, 1988, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado vacated by Judge John L. Kane Jr.

[1] Among Babcock's notable cases were civil lawsuits over the Columbine High School massacre,[2] and Lane v. Owens, a 2003 decision to enjoin enforcement of a Colorado law requiring students and teachers to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

[3] Judge Babcock also upheld the constitutionality of Colorado's ban on smoking in bars and restaurants.

[4] Other cases include Golan v. Gonzales, in which he held that the copyright provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act did not violate the United States Constitution.