Judge Evelyn Baker Retires
A
significant bit of history has taken place at Circuit Court. Evelyn
Baker, the first African-American woman to be appointed a circuit
judge in Missouri, retired at the end of March.
Judge Baker, often outspoken but always admired
for her knowledge and kind demeanor, was appointed to the bench
by Gov. Christopher “Kit” Bond in 1983. She says the landmark
appointment came with a great deal of responsibility, since she
knew she would be watched more closely than other judges.
Judge Baker was born and raised in St. Louis
and received her law degree from Saint Louis University. Her path
to the Court began with the National Labor Relations Board in
1973, followed by:
St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office ’74 – ‘77
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office ’77 – ‘78
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri ’78 – ‘83
After 25 years with the Court, she says simply,
“It’s time to go.” We wish Judge Baker the best in her retirement.
In related news, Governor Matt Blunt has appointed
St. Louis attorney Bryan Hettenbach to replace Judge Joan Burger,
who retired in January.
“Bryan’s twenty years as an attorney will be
invaluable as he assumes his new responsibilities as a judge,”
the governor said in a press release. Hettenbach is a former news
editor of Missouri Lawyers Weekly and is a member of the Lawyers
Association of St. Louis and Metropolitan Bar Association of St.
Louis.
