Adjunct Professor of Law; Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
B.A., J.D., Yale

Biography

B.A., J.D., Yale. President Clinton appointed James Baker to the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces on September 19, 2000. Judge Baker previously served as Special Assistant to the President and Legal Adviser to the National Security Council (NSC) (1997-2000), where he advised the President, the National Security Advisor and the NSC staff on U.S. and international law involving national security, including: use of force, the law of armed conflict, intelligence activities, foreign assistance, terrorism, arms control, human rights, and international law enforcement. Judge Baker also served as Deputy Legal Adviser to the National Security Council (1994-1997) and as Counsel to the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and Intelligence Oversight Board. As an attorney adviser in the Office of the Legal Advisor, Department of State, he provided advice on law enforcement, intelligence, and counter-terrorism as well as serving as legal adviser to U.S. delegations to various environmental negotiations. Judge Baker served as a legislative aide and acting Chief of Staff to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1985-1987). Judge Baker is the author, with Michael Riesman, of Regulating Covert Action (Yale University Press: 1992). Upon graduating from college, Judge Baker received a Reserve commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He subsequently earned a regular commission at The Basic School before joining the Fleet Marine Force where he served as a rifle platoon leader, weapons platoon leader, company executive officer and as an aide-de-camp. While an undergraduate, Judge Baker attended the Platoon Leaders Class. He finished first in his class at Officer Candidates School, for which Yale received the Commandant’s Trophy. Judge Baker resigned his Reserve commission upon joining the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Judge Baker is the recipient of the 1999 Colonel Nelson Drew Memorial Award, the NSC’s highest honor. The award recognizes “distinguished contributions to the formation of peaceful, cooperative relationships between states, and U.S. security policy for global peace.” He is also the recipient of the Director of Central Intelligence's "Director's Award."