Dean's Public Engagement Lecture:
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Michael Burke
"Illinois Courts of Review: A Justice's Perspective"
Thursday, October 28, 2021
12 p.m.
Max L. Rowe Auditorium
University of Illinois College of Law
Justice Burke will discuss how cases move through Illinois reviewing courts including specific procedures and practices employed in the Illinois Supreme Court. He will touch on the role of the state reviewing courts in the federalist system and recent issues and developments in the Supreme Court. Finally, Justice Burke will offer observations on effective brief writing and oral argument techniques.
Event is free, and open to the campus community.
"Building Access GRANTED" status required and face masks must be worn while in the Law building.
Lunch provided to lecture attendees.
Remote attendees are welcome: https://livestream.com/accounts/23585776/events/9888290
Michael J. Burke was born in Chicago on October 28, 1958. He attended St. Laurence High School, Northern Illinois University (B.S., Magna Cum Laude, 1980) and The John Marshall Law School (J.D., with highest distinction, 1984). He was an Assistant State’s Attorney in DuPage County from 1984 to 1992 and served as the Chief of the Special Prosecutions Unit for two years.
Justice Burke was appointed to the bench in 1992 and served as an Associate Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit for nine years. In 1998, he received a 97.9% approved rating by the DuPage County Bar Poll, the highest rating for an Associate Judge that year.
In 2001, he was appointed as a Circuit Judge and won election in 2002 and retention in 2008. While in the Circuit Court he heard felony cases and sat as the Presiding Judge of the Misdemeanor/Traffic Division. In July 2008, Justice Burke was assigned to the Appellate Court, and in 2014 he was elected to that court. He served as Presiding Justice of the 2nd Appellate District from 2012 to 2014.
He was Committee Chair of the Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee and is a certified judicial performance evaluation facilitator. He was also a member of several other Illinois Supreme Court Committees including the Judicial Conference of Illinois, Study Committee on Complex Litigation, Courtroom Security Committee, and Judicial Mentor Committee and is a certified new judge mentor and certified peer judge mentor. Justice Burke has served on the faculties of the Judicial Education Conference and New Judge Seminar.
He was a former director of the Illinois Judges Foundation and is a member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and DuPage County Bar Association. He has published articles in the Illinois Bar Journal and DuPage County Bar Association Brief.
In March 2020, Justice Burke joined the Illinois Supreme Court when he was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Robert Thomas.
The Dean’s Public Engagement Lecture Series aims to increase interaction between the legal academy, the legal and business professions, and the public. Hosted by Dean Vikram David Amar, the Series brings distinguished judges, lawyers, and businesspersons to the College of Law to talk on cutting-edge issues affecting law, justice, business, and government.
For more information:
Carolyn Turner, Assistant Dean for Administration
carolynt@illinois.edu