Hello, I am Judge Karen Baker and I am a candidate for the Arkansas Supreme Court. In my legal career, I have been a trial attorney, a Juvenile Judge, a Circuit Judge and a Judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals. I am currently serving my 15th year as a judge. I hope that you will explore this website to learn about me and why I feel that I am the right choice for this important position. I am asking for your vote and support in the non-partisan election on May 18.
Please join us to celebrate the Judge Karen Baker Campaign Kickoff at Michelangleo’s Thursday, November 19th from 5:00pm – 9:00pm.
The seven individuals who make up the Arkansas Supreme Court decide the law of this State. One of these important positions will be opened by Justice Annabelle Imber’s retirement. I have decided to seek that position and am committed to both the campaign and to ensuring that the people of Arkansas are fully aware of the importance of the choice they will make on May 18. The decisions of the Arkansas Supreme Court effect the lives of all Arkansans.
As a lifelong resident of a rural Arkansas, I understand the daily challenges of people living in our rural state. Mine is a fifth generation farm family and although we have often had “other jobs,” we have always maintained that tradition. My husband and I have a farm and raise Black Angus cattle. I want my children to be grounded in the same rural tradition that was my heritage.
My grandmother, who I was very close to, passed away in 2006 at the age of 97. She had only an 8th grade education, but was the feistiest and wisest woman I have ever known. She went to nursing school after her children were grown and worked as a nurse until she was age 77. She taught me to respect everyday hardworking people and that wisdom isn’t found only in law books. She often told me to “do the right thing, not the easy thing.” Neither of my parents graduated from college, but they were committed to seeing that their children received a good education. They achieved that goal when my two brothers and I became the first generation of our family to receive college degrees; then each went on to receive graduate degrees. I lost my father in 1999, but my mother still lives in Clinton, in the home where I grew up. I live only a few miles away with my husband of twenty-five years, David, and our three children, Evan, 14, and Aaron, 9, and Emily, 7.
I graduated from Clinton High School in 1981, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas Tech University in 1983, followed by a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law School in January of 1987. While in law school, I served as an assistant editor of the U.A.L.R. Law Journal. I was admitted to the bar in March of 1987 and returned to my hometown to begin private practice. My law practice was varied and included six years as a public defender for Van Buren and Searcy Counties. I also served as guardian-ad-litem for hundreds of children in abuse and neglect cases. In 1995, Governor Tucker appointed me to serve as Circuit/Chancery/Juvenile Judge for the Twentieth District. In 1996, I was elected Circuit Judge. I was re-elected 1998. Then in 2000, I was elected to the Arkansas Court of Appeals. I was re-elected in 2004.
I am currently serving my 9th year on the Arkansas Court of Appeals and my 15th year as a judge. I truly believe that I am the most qualified candidate for this critical position on our Supreme Court. My experience in life and in the law give me the background necessary to make the decisions our Supreme Court must make. Because judicial races are nonpartisan, this election will be decided in the primary on May 18th. This is a short time to reach the people of this State concerning such an important decision and I hope that the information on this website helps provide you with the information you need to make the right choice. Please take the time to review this information and join in discussions on my facebook page with your questions or comments. I am asking for your vote on May 18th to elect me to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
