Christopher D. Baker at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Jurisdiction
- California · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Christopher D. Baker
U.S. Magistrate Judge · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Analytics
The published one-year federal docket dataset through 2026-06-30 records 178 cases assigned to this judge and 8 terminated cases. Explore analytics
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California · U.S. Magistrate Judge · Active · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Source authority
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Public docket analytics load when this section is opened.
Biography
Professional career
- Magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, specifically in the Bakersfield Division
- Judge Baker served seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry officer, reflecting a strong background in leadership and discipline
- He spent fourteen years with the Department of Justice, serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of California (Bakersfield and Fresno offices), First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Nevada, and Attorney Advisor in the National Security Division
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994, a law degree from UCLA School of Law in 2004, and a Master of Science from the National Intelligence University in 2013.
Additional information
- He presides over criminal matters arising on federal lands and civil cases within the division, and he also conducts settlement conferences for all types of cases.
- His courtroom follows specific individual rules and standing orders, including procedures for criminal hearings, payments, and telephonic requests for additional conditions in criminal cases.
- Judge Christopher D. Baker combines extensive federal prosecutorial experience, military service, and private practice expertise.
- His role as a magistrate judge in the Eastern District of California involves handling both civil and criminal matters, conducting settlement conferences, and applying his broad legal and international experience to support the federal judiciary.
- Judge Baker has over eighteen years of legal experience in both public and private sectors.
- His DOJ service included tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he assisted in international rule-of-law capacity building.
- focusing on complex civil litigation, including consumer fraud, products liability, intellectual property, and contract disputes.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Courtwide
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 29, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 29, 2026.
U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster
Identity source · HTML · Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts · Source checked July 29, 2026
View U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗