[2] After graduating from law school, Baker served as a law clerk to Judge John M. Duhé Jr. of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana and Judge Thomas Gibbs Gee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

From 1989 to 1991, he practiced as an associate at Myerson & Kuhn, Dilworth Paxson, and Carr Goodson & Lee in successive periods.

From 2000 to 2019 he served as a litigation partner and co-chair of the appellate practice group in the Washington, D.C., office of McDermott Will & Emery.

President Trump nominated Baker to the seat vacated by Judge Donald C. Pogue, who assumed senior status on July 1, 2014.

[4] On January 3, 2019, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.