James Donald Baker was born at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia in December 1936. While he was still a child, his father died in an automobile accident, and his mother moved to East Vancouver. James Baker grew up on the east side of the city, and attended high school at Gladstone Secondary.
He enrolled at the University of British Columbia, encouraged by his mother to study engineering. However, Baker had a distinct dislike for Math, Chemistry, and Physics, and as a result joined the Commerce faculty after his first year. He then enrolled in the Commerce-Law program and graduated with an LL.B. in 1962. Baker worked throughout university, earning the money to pay tuition from companies like Saguenay-Kitimat Construction, Vancouver Plywood, and the American Can Company.
After graduation Mr. Baker articled at Laurence and Shaw, alongside fellow UBC graduate Laurie Peers. After articles he found work with the startup law firm of Robertson, Liddle and Shrum, which eventually became McCarthy's. However, working at the firm didn't allow Mr. Baker to be in court as frequently as he desired, and in pursuit of a greater balance of litigation work, he obtained employment under Stewart McMorran at the City Prosecutors office. As a junior City Prosecutor he found a mento in Judge Darrel Jones, who would spend a significant amount of time with Baker, instructing him on the mistakes he had made.
In 1965, he returned to corporate practice at Wilson, Hinds and Davies in Chilliwack, and stayed at the firm for the remainder of his career. Shortly after joining the firm, Wilson, Hinds, and Davies all become County Court Judges, with Hinds and Davies both later becoming Supreme Court Judges. Hinds would subsequently be appointed to the Court of Appeal. The firm then became know as Baker Newby LLP and has 25 lawyers practicing in Chilliwack and Abbotsford.
James Donald Baker was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1983. and has served as president of the Fraser Valley Bar Association. He enjoys sporting through salmon fishing and attempting to play golf, emphasizing that he only 'attempts.' He enjoys spending time during the summers at his waterfront home on Hornby Island, and is encouraged by the love and support of his large family, including two of his three children who also practice law.