While I was out on vacation, I received the sad news that former Texas Supreme Court Justice James Baker had passed away. Aside from numerous media reports summarizing his many accomplishments, the Court has issued this tribute, which captures the essence of the man.
I was working for former Justice Raul Gonzalez when then-Governor Bush appointed Justice Baker to fill an open seat on the Court. His chambers were across the hall, and he often poked his head in to say hello or to drop off his latest revisions to a draft opinion. “Shorter! Simpler!” were the most frequent comments. He thought the Court’s opinions should be easy to read and understand, and he had no difficulty expressing himself—always politely and respectfully—if he thought a draft wasn’t true to the law.
After he “retired” to become a partner at Hughes & Luce (now K&L Gates), Justice Baker remained a mainstay in the appellate bar. When he wasn’t speaking at CLE functions, you could count on him sitting near the front row, listening attentively. The seriousness of his illness was obvious when he missed the UT Appellate Seminar and related functions late last month.
Justice Baker set the bar high for appellate judges and practitioners alike. We should all strive to meet his standards.