Francis Elisha Baker
Judge Baker no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Baker decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
Baker required the appellant to preserve and transmit the evidence needed to show error; an incomplete appellate record did not create a presumption against the trial court.
“there is no room for contending that error must be presumed.”
Cautions
Evidence obtained through an unconstitutional search could not be used to build the prosecution's case.
“Cases of this kind must be judged as if the illegal seizure had never been made.”
A wharf owner was not an insurer but had to use reasonable diligence to identify hazards in berths offered to vessels.
“Though a wharfinger is not a guarantor of safety, he must use reasonable diligence to ascertain the condition of the berths into which he invites vessels”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings in consonance with this opinion.”
“The judgment is reversed, with the direction to quash the indictment.”
“The judgment is reversed, with direction to grant a new trial.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Circuit judges do not carry a single assigned trial caseload.
A historical record
Judge Baker no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.