Sarah Evans Barker (born June 10, 1943) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Sarah Evans Barker
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Assumed office
June 30, 2014
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
In office
1994–2000
Preceded byGene Edward Brooks
Succeeded byLarry J. McKinney
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
In office
March 14, 1984 – June 30, 2014
Appointed byRonald Reagan
Preceded byCale James Holder
Succeeded byJames R. Sweeney II
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
In office
1981–1984
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byVirginia Dill McCarty
Succeeded byJohn Daniel Tinder
Personal details
Born
Sarah Elizabeth Evans[1]

(1943-06-10) June 10, 1943 (age 81)
Mishawaka, Indiana, U.S.
EducationIndiana University Bloomington (BS)
American University (JD)

Education and career

edit

Born in Mishawaka, Indiana, Barker received a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University Bloomington in 1965 and a Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law in 1969. She was a legislative assistant for United States Representative Gilbert Gude in 1969 and for United States Senator Charles H. Percy from 1969 to 1971. She was a special counsel to the United States Senate Government Operations Committee, permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in Washington, D.C. from 1971 to 1972. She was a director of research and director of scheduling and advance to Senator Percy's re-election campaign in 1972. She then served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Indiana from 1972 to 1976, and as a First Assistant United States Attorney from 1976 to 1977. She was in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1977 to 1981. She was the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana from 1981 to 1984.[2] In 2012, Barker received the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site Advancing American Democracy Award.

Federal judicial service

edit

On February 14, 1984, Barker was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana vacated by Judge Cale James Holder. Barker was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 13, 1984, and received her commission the following day, becoming the first female federal judge in Indiana.[2][3] She served as Chief Judge from 1994 to 2000. Barker assumed senior status effective June 30, 2014.[4]

In April 2006, Barker granted summary judgment in favor of Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita in a case challenging Indiana's Voter ID law.[5] Barker was affirmed by SCOTUS in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ 55th Commencement Program, American University, Spring 1969
  2. ^ a b "Barker, Sarah Evans - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  3. ^ "Barker confirmed as judge". newspaperarchive.com. 14 March 1984. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  4. ^ "Judge Sarah Evans Barker to step back on duties".
  5. ^ Ind. Democratic Party v. Rokita, 458 F. Supp. 2d 775 (S.D. Ind. 2006).

Sources

edit
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
1984–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
1994–2000
Succeeded by