Burke Retiring From Supreme Court
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke speaks at The Kennedy Forum National Summit On Mental Health Equity And Justice In Chicago in 2018. Burke announced Monday she is retiring from the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Burke announced Monday she will retire December 1st and will be replaced by First District Appellate Justice Joy Cunningham.
In a statement announcing her retirement, Burke said she was “blessed” to serve sixteen years on the Supreme Court.
“The race has been run and it is time to pass the gavel to a successor,” Burke wrote.
Burke, 78, grew up on Chicago’s south side, graduated from Maria High School and began working with the Chicago Park District and Special Olympics. She didn’t return to college until later in life, graduating from DePaul University and the Chicago-Kent College of Law. She was 40 years old when she began her legal career.
She began serving on the Appellate Court in Chicago in 1995 and was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2006.
“I have always believed that the nearly twelve years I spent as a justice of the Appellate Court and the sixteen years I have served on the Supreme Court, have been a continuation of my core desire to speak for those who have no voice of their own and to improve the lives of all of the citizens of the State,” Burke wrote. “I will remain forever grateful to the people of Chicago and the First Judicial District for granting me the opportunity to serve them and all the people of Illinois.”
Burke is married to indicted Chicago alderman Ed Burke, who faces a federal trial next year on racketeering, bribery and extortion charges. Anne Burke, who has been Chief Justice for three years, has not been connected to any alleged wrongdoing.
Burke’s appointed replacement, Joy Cunningham, has served on the Appellate Court since 2006. She will be the second African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Cunningham was an Associate General Counsel for Loyola University of Chicago, and General Counsel for Northwestern Memorial Hospital system. She also served as a Cook County Circuit Judge.
Sitting justices appoint the replacement, and Cunningham will not face voters until 2024, when she will have to run for a full 10-year term on the court.
Meanwhile, Justice Mary Jane Theis will be the next Chief Justice state Supreme Court. Justice Theis was selected by fellow members of the state’s high court to serve a three-year term beginning October 26.