Judge Joel Baker, a native of Tyler, is a graduate of Tyler Junior College, Texas A&M, and the South Texas College of Law. He has practiced law as an assistant district attorney and in private practice and is a member in good standing of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization with a specialization in Juvenile Law.  Judge Baker was first elected County Judge in November 2006 and began his first term of office January, 2007.  He was re-elected in 2010 to a new four year term that ends December 31, 2014.

In 2009, Judge Baker was appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.  In 2010, he was appointed to the Texas Health and Human Services Guardianship Advisory Board. 

Judge Baker contributes to the community through his involvement with several organizations.  He serves as a board member for the East Texas Crisis Center and is a charter member of Tyler Junior College Public Administration Advisory Board.  In addition, he is a member of several local boards and committees, among them local Chambers of Commerce, the Citizens’ Advisory Team of the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG), East Texas State Fair Committee, Tyler Junior College Legal Assistants Advisory Committee, the Smith County Revolving Loan Fund Loan Board, City of Tyler Reinvestment Zone Committee, and Tyler Pipe Company’s Community Advisory Panel. In addition, he is on the Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Board of Directors of the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC), the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, and sits on the Chief Elected Officials’ Board for Workforce Solutions East Texas. 

Judge Baker and his wife reside in Tyler and are the proud parents of three children.  The Bakers are active members of Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler, where he serves on several church committees.  Judge Baker enjoys reading, hunting, camping, “do-it-yourself” projects, and is an avid history buff.  In addition, he is totally fascinated by new advances in technology and is self-educated on any new “gizmo” that is introduced.


For more information on the duties of the County Judge, please click this link:

http://www.texascounties4u.org/desc/judge.html