Judge Barker was nominated to the Bench by Ronald Reagan in 1984, and served as Chief Judge of the Southern District of Indiana from 1994-2000. Prior to joining the Bench, Judge Barker was a Legislative assistant (for both a congressman and a senator, 1969-1971), Special counsel to the U.S. Senate Government Operations Committee, permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, 1971-1972, Assistant U.S. Attorney, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and also enjoyed a brief stint in private practice (1977-1981). She is regularly assigned cases by the MDL panel, and is widely-regarded as an expert in the management of class actions.