William Eli Baker

Who was William Eli Baker?

William Eli Baker was a United States federal judge.

Born in Beverly, West Virginia, Baker received a B.S. from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1893 and an LL.B. from West Virginia University in 1896. He was in private practice in Elkins, West Virginia from 1896 to 1921. He was a special counsel to United States Senators Stephen Benton Elkins and Henry G. Davis, both of West Virginia. He was also a prosecuting attorney of Randolph County, West Virginia from 1900 to 1912.

On April 4, 1921, Baker received a recess appointment from President Warren G. Harding to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia vacated by Alston Gordon Dayton. Formally nominated on April 14, 1921, Baker was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 3, 1921, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge from 1948 to 1954, assuming senior status on April 3, 1954. He served in that capacity until his death, in Beverly.