--- title: "Karen R. Baker | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-r-baker-chief-justice-arkansas-supreme-court-karen-r-baker-ar" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Karen R. Baker Supreme Court of Arkansas · Chief Justice ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas - State: Arkansas - Role: Chief Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2010-present - In 2024, she ran for Chief Justice against Justice Rhonda K. Wood and won the general runoff election on November 5, 2024, officially assuming office on January 1, 2025 - Appointed as an associate judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals from 2001 to 2010 - Her judicial career started in 1995 as a 20th Judicial District Circuit/Chancery/Juvenile Judge, followed by service as a Circuit/Chancery Judge from 1997 to 2000 - Baker made history as the first female Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court ### Education - University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law School in, where she was a member of the Law Journal and held the role — J.D. (1987) - Undergraduate degree from Arkansas Tech University in 1983 ### Additional information - She was re-elected in 2014 after running unopposed. - In 2010, Baker was elected to the Arkansas Supreme Court and sworn in on January 10, 2011. - legis, 2009-2009 - She then held the role of a public defender for Van Buren and Searcy counties from 1989 to 1995. - Began her legal career in private practice from 1987 to 1995. - Karen Renee Baker was born in 1963 and grew up in Clinton, Arkansas. - Date of birth: 1961-01-01 - Baker has participated in significant rulings on the Arkansas Supreme Court, including cases involving election law and state constitutional amendments. - Arkansas judicial elections are nonpartisan, and Baker’s decisions are guided by legal interpretation rather than political affiliation. - Clinton High School - She has occasionally dissented in high-profile cases, reflecting her independent judicial perspective. - She chose to take her oath of office in her hometown of Clinton, emphasizing her connection to the community and the significance of this milestone for women in law. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### remote hearing platform Scope: statewide Arkansas Judiciary publishes electronic-hearing Zoom resources and court-user guides for remote proceedings. Evidence excerpt: Zoom Guides for Court Users [Arkansas Judiciary: Electronic Hearings With Zoom](https://arcourts.gov/arkansas-supreme-court-statement-novel-coronavirus-outbreak-and-courts/electronic-hearings-zoom) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### audio recording Scope: statewide Arkansas Judiciary publishes state-district-court digital audio recording guidance as an official court resource. Evidence excerpt: AOC Provisional Guidelines for Digital Audio Recording in State District Courts [Arkansas Judiciary: District Courts](https://arcourts.gov/courts/district-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://arcourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/justices) - [Official roster](https://arcourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/justices) - [Arkansas Judiciary official judicial roster](https://arcourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/justices) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3735/karen-r-baker/) - [Arkansas Judiciary: Electronic Hearings With Zoom](https://arcourts.gov/arkansas-supreme-court-statement-novel-coronavirus-outbreak-and-courts/electronic-hearings-zoom) - [Arkansas Judiciary: District Courts](https://arcourts.gov/courts/district-courts) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3735/karen-r-baker/) - [Wikidata: Karen R. Baker](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16146324) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-r-baker-chief-justice-arkansas-supreme-court-karen-r-baker-ar", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-r-baker-chief-justice-arkansas-supreme-court-karen-r-baker-ar", "name": "Karen R. Baker | KnowJudges", "description": "Karen R. Baker, Supreme Court of Arkansas. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-r-baker-chief-justice-arkansas-supreme-court-karen-r-baker-ar#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-r-baker-chief-justice-arkansas-supreme-court-karen-r-baker-ar#judge", "name": "Karen R. 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