Justice James A. Baker Memorial Clerkship

Justice James A. Baker Memorial Scholarship is a six-week summer clerkship with the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court of Texas

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On Sunday, June 22, 2008, the Texas legal community lost one of its most outstanding, distinguished, and respected leaders with the passing of Justice James A. Baker. At the time of his death, Justice Baker was serving as our 2008 Dallas Bar Foundation Fellows Chair, in addition to so many other volunteer positions that he held in legal, civic, non-profit, and charitable organizations. We were so honored to have him participate in the 2008 Fellows Luncheon on April 16th to welcome the new Fellows.

 

In order to honor Justice Baker’s many achievements during a life well lived and to perpetuate his memory and lifelong mentoring of so many, the Dallas Bar Foundation established a perpetual scholarship fund in his name. This project, to fund and develop the Justice James A. Baker Scholarship, had the full support of Justice Baker’s wife Claudia, and his family with whom we consulted regarding both its creation and ultimate purpose. Justice Baker’s daughters were able to attend the 2009 Fellows Luncheon when the first recipient of the Justice James A. Baker Scholarship was introduced by the then Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson.

 

A scholarship in Justice Baker’s name will be awarded every year. To start the fundraising efforts, a lead gift in the amount of $10,000 was committed by the Dallas Bar Foundation. Two additional lead gifts were committed by the law firm of K&L Gates and the partners of the former firm of Hughes & Luce.