Thurbert Baker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thurbert Baker
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| 46th Attorney General of Georgia | |
| In office June 1, 1997 – January 10, 2011 |
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| Governor | Zell Miller Roy Barnes Sonny Perdue |
| Preceded by | Mike Bowers |
| Succeeded by | Sam Olens |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 70th district |
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| In office January 11, 1993 – June 1, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | John T. Simpson |
| Succeeded by | Stan Watson |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 51st district |
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| In office January 9, 1989 – January 11, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Ken Workman |
| Succeeded by | Billy McKinney |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thurbert Earl Baker
December 16, 1952 Rocky Mount, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Catherine Baker |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA) Emory University (JD) |
Thurbert Earl Baker, born on December 16, 1952, is an important figure in Georgia's history. He was the first African American to serve as the Attorney General for the U.S. state of Georgia. He was chosen for this role in 1997 by Governor Zell Miller. He held the position until January 10, 2011.
When Governor Zell Miller appointed Thurbert Baker as Attorney General on June 1, 1997, it was a big moment. Baker became the first African American to hold this job in Georgia. At that time, he was also the only Black state attorney general in the entire country. After his appointment, Baker was elected to the position three times as a Democrat.
In the 2006 election, Baker received more votes than any other Democrat running for a statewide office in Georgia. He was one of only three Democrats to win statewide that year. He served as Attorney General for a long time, holding the fourth-longest term in Georgia's history.
Contents
Thurbert Baker's Public Service
Serving in the Legislature
Before becoming Attorney General, Thurbert Baker served in the Georgia House of Representatives. He was a representative from 1989 to 1997. From 1993 until he became Attorney General, he was a key leader for Governor Miller's plans in the House.
During his time in the legislature, Baker helped create several important laws. One was the HOPE Scholarship, which helps students pay for college. Another was the "Two Strikes and You're Out" law. This law aimed to keep serious repeat criminals in prison for life.
As Attorney General
As Attorney General, Thurbert Baker worked hard to fight crime and fraud. He focused on making laws stronger against people who harm children online. He also worked on laws against identity theft and mortgage fraud. From 2006 to 2007, he was the President of the National Association of Attorneys General.
In 2003, Baker had a disagreement with Governor Sonny Perdue in court. They both believed they had the right to control Georgia's legal matters. The issue was about how voting districts were drawn. Governor Perdue wanted Baker to stop an appeal in a court case. This case challenged a map of legislative districts that the previous governor had approved.
Baker refused to drop the appeal, so Governor Perdue sued him. The Supreme Court of Georgia decided that Baker was right. They ruled that the Attorney General is an independent elected official. This means the Attorney General has the power to manage the state government's legal affairs.
In 2010, Governor Perdue and Baker had another disagreement. Perdue asked Baker to sue the federal government over a new healthcare law. Baker said no, explaining that he did not see a legal reason for the lawsuit. He believed it would fail and waste taxpayer money. Because of this, some lawmakers tried to remove Baker from his position.
Running for Governor
In 2010, Thurbert Baker decided to run for governor of Georgia. He lost in the Democratic primary election to former governor Roy Barnes. Barnes then lost the general election later that year.
Thurbert Baker's Personal Life
Thurbert Baker was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina in 1952. He grew up with several people who later became important politicians. These included Mike Easley, a former Governor of North Carolina, and Roy Cooper, the current Governor of North Carolina.
While attending the University of North Carolina, Baker was on the fencing team. He won a championship in 1975. In 2002, he was recognized as one of the best fencers in his college conference's history. Baker moved to Georgia in the 1970s to become a lawyer.
Thurbert Baker and his wife, Catherine, live in Stone Mountain. Catherine is an educator. They have two daughters. Baker is a practicing Baptist and a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.
Education
- J.D., Emory University School of Law, 1979
- Bachelor of Arts, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1975
