Sarah Evans Barker was appointed judge of the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, in March 1984 and served as chief judge between 1994 and 2001. Prior to her appointment, Judge Barker was United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and, earlier, both an associate and partner at the Indianapolis law firm of Bose, McKinney & Evans. She started her legal career in Indianapolis as an assistant United States Attorney, and prior to that she served as legislative assistant to Senator Charles H. Percy in Washington, D.C., and special counsel to the Senate Government Operations Subcommittee.

Active throughout her career in judicial and bar-related organizations, Judge Barker currently serves as president of the 900-member Federal Judges Association. In 2004, she was appointed by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist to serve on the Special Study Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability (the "Breyer Committee"). Judge Barker has previously served as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States, its Executive Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, Standing Rules Committee, Budget Committee and, currently, the Judicial Branch Committee (ex-officio). She has also served on a variety of 7th Circuit committees and has been a member and officer of several bar associations.

Judge Barker is active in numerous civic, educational, cultural and religious organizations, including the Board of Directors of Clarian Health Partners, Inc., the Board of the Indiana Historical Society, and the Advisory Board for the Spirit and Place Civic Festival. She has previously served on several boards of trustees for Indiana academic institutions, of the Connor Prairie Museum and advisory boards of Indiana University and its law schools, including participation on search committees for law school deans, an Indiana University chancellor and presidents. She is a member of the Indiana Academy, a recipient of the Trailblazer Award given by the Indiana Commission for Women, and a Distinguished Alumna of Indiana University. In addition, she has been awarded ten honorary degrees from Midwestern colleges and universities. Judge Barker is a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis, the Lawyers Club, and the Gathering.

Judge Barker was born in Northern Indiana, and is a graduate of Indiana University and the American University School of Law. She is married and has both children and grandchildren.