Hon. Derek J. Baker

Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream: Black Cherry / Cherry Vanilla

Judge Derek J. Baker was appointed on February 19, 2025 by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit as a United States

Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He serves in the Philadelphia Division. Judge Baker filled the position vacated by Judge Magdeline Coleman upon her retirement.

Prior to his appointment, Judge Baker maintained a private practice with Reed Smith LLP in the firm’s Philadelphia and Princeton offices. Judge Baker’s practice focused on Commercial Restructuring and Bankruptcy issues throughout the country representing all major players in workouts, restructurings, foreclosures, and bankruptcies. Judge Baker’s primary practice involved first chair trial and appellate work in state and federal courts (including bankruptcy courts) and arbitration panels, addressing varying restructuring issues ranging from enforcement of creditor remedies to contested confirmation hearings on plans of reorganization.

Judge Baker serves as a Director and immediate Past President of the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation, a statewide non-profit whose mission is focused on financial education and providing credit access for people with disabilities to acquire assistive technology.

Judge Baker is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. Judge Baker obtained his B.A. with University Honors from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania (summa cum laude) and a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law (magna cum laude) where he was a member of the Law Review.