Albert Baker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court | |
| In office May 24, 1893 – July 20, 1897 | |
| Nominated by | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Henry C. Gooding |
| Succeeded by | Hiram Truesdale |
| Justice of theArizona Supreme Court | |
| In office January 4, 1919 – August 31, 1921 | |
| Preceded by | John Wilson Ross |
| Succeeded by | Edward Flanigan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1845-02-15)February 15, 1845 |
| Died | August 31, 1921(1921-08-31) (aged 76) Los Angeles, California |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Jesus Alexander |
| Profession | Attorney |
Albert Cornelius Baker (February 15, 1845 – August 31, 1921) was an Americanjurist and politician who was the only person to serve on both the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court and theArizona Supreme Court.[1] As a judge he served four years as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ofArizona Territory and two-and-a-half years as a justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. Politically he was a member of theArizona Territorial Legislature and a delegate to Arizona's constitutional convention.
Baker was born on February 15, 1845, inGirard, Alabama, to Benjamin H. and Eliza (Greer) Baker.[2] His father was a prominent attorney and he was educated in private schools.[3] During theAmerican Civil War he joined theConfederate States Army and served two-and-a-half years ascolor bearer for Waddell's Battalion of Artillery.[4] While in the battalion, Baker saw action during theSiege of Vicksburg and during theAtlanta campaign from theBattle of Rocky Face Ridge to theBattle of Atlanta. Following Atlanta he spent a short time as aprisoner of war.[2]
Following the war, Baker became a graduate ofEast Alabama Male College (now Auburn University).[4] After completing school he studied law at a law office and was admitted to the bar in 1868. Baker opened his own law office inCrawford, Alabama and practiced there for three years before moving toMissouri. From Missouri he moved toSan Diego, California and in 1876 arrived inLos Angeles.[5]
In February 1879, his legal practice brought Baker toPhoenix, Arizona Territory. As he was concluding his business and preparing to return, JusticeDeForest Porter requested Baker serve asspecial prosecutor for aMaricopa County attorney accused ofmalfeasance in office. After accepting and completing the assignment he began accepting additional cases and never made his planned return to California, instead making Phoenix his home for the rest of his life.[5]
Baker was elected a member of the council (upper house) for the11th Arizona Territorial Legislature in November 1880.[5] During the session he served as chairman of judiciary committee.[6] Two years later he defeatedCharles Austin Tweed to become Maricopa Countyattorney.[5] During the 1880s he also served four years and Phoenix city attorney and four years asAssistant United States Attorney.[6][5] In 1886, Baker was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Territorial Delegate but lost the nomination toMarcus Aurelius Smith.[5]
On February 2, 1882, Baker married Mary Jesus Alexander in a ceremony performed by Justice Porter. The couple had four children survive to adulthood.[7]
As a delegate to the1892 Democratic National Convention, Baker was a supporter ofGrover Cleveland. When Cleveland was elected, Baker applied to become the territory's chief justice. His support as a delegate, combined with endorsements byL. C. Hughes,Joseph Henry Kibbey,Richard Elihu Sloan, andWilliam Henry Stilwell, resulted in arecess appointment on May 16, 1893. He took the oath of office on May 24, 1893. On top of his duties as Chief Justice, Baker was responsible Arizona Territory's third judicial district.[1] To this was added the roles of member of board of curators for the territorial library and member of board of regents for theArizona Normal School at Tempe (now Arizona State University).[6][8]
Baker administered the oath of office to his successor on July 20, 1897,[9] and returned to private practice. In 1899 he became president of the Territorial Bar Association, a position he held for two years.[1] In 1910 he was elected to represent Maricopa County at Arizona'sconstitutional convention.[10] At the start of the convention he served as Temporary President before the delegates could select their leaders.[11] He was also a member of Committee on Style, Revision, and Compilation which edited the wording of the final document.[12]
In 1918, Baker ran for election as a Justice to theArizona Supreme Court. During theprimary he defeated the incumbent,Alfred Franklin, by a vote of 14,419 to 12,275. He then won thegeneral election with 20,721 votes to Republican candidate A.A. Jayne's 5,008 and Socialist candidate J. N. Morrison 3,688.[1] Following his election, Baker was asked to fill the vacancy left by Justice Franklin's resignation.[13] Baker decided to wait till the start of his own term and took the bench on January 4, 1919.[7]
Baker died on August 31, 1921, while visiting his daughter inLos Angeles, California.[14][7] His body was returned to Phoenix and buried in St. Francis Cemetery.[7]
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