Susan N. Burke

• University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1990
• Hanover College, B.A. Political Science (magnu cum laude)1987

Employment:

• United States Attorney's Office
  Minneapolis, MN 1994-present
  Assistant United States Attorney
  White Collar Crime Section 2002-present
  Narcotics and Firearms Section 1997-2002
  Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force 1999-2002
  Major and Violent Crime Section 1994-1997
  
  
• United States Department of Justice
  Washington, D.C. 1992-1994
  Civil Trial Attorney
  
  
• The Honorable Paul A. Magnuson
  United States District Court
  District of Minnesota
  St. Paul, MN 1990-1992
  Judicial Law Clerk

Bar admission:

• United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 1996-present
• United States District Court for the District of Minnesota 1994-present
• United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 1992-present
• Supreme Court of the State of Minnesota 1992-present
• Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii 1990-present
  

Bar Activities:

• Minnesota State Bar Association
  Board of Governors, 2000-present
  MSBA Judicial Elections Committee, 2002-present
  MSBA Governance Task Force, 2002-present
  Minority Bar Summit, 2000-present
  Diversity Committee, 2000-present
  Public Law Section, 2000-present
  Criminal Law Section, 2004-present
  MSBA Member, 1992-present
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association
  Board of Directors/Governing Council, 2001-present
  Nominating Committee, 2002-present
  MSBA Board of Governors Alternate, 2002-3
  Criminal Law Committee, Co-Chair 2001-2
  HCBA Member, 1996-present
  
  
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association-Minnesota Chapter
  President-Elect, 2003-present
  Board of Directors, 2000-present
  Minority Bar Summit Representative, 2000-present
  
  
• MSBA Board of Governors Representative, 2000-present
  MSBA Diversity Committee Representative, 2000-present
  Annual Convention, Sacramento, CA, 1994
  Annual Convention, Los Angeles, CA, 1999
  Public Law Section, 1999-2001
  NAPABA Member, 1999-present
  
  
• Minnesota Women Lawyers
  Myra Bradwell Award Selection Committee, 2002
  Endorsement Committee for Judicial Appointments, 1999-present
  Attorney-to-Attorney Mentoring Program, 1998-present
  Attorney-to-Law Student Mentoring Program, 2000-present
  MWL Member, 1995-present
  
  
• Eighth Circuit Bar Association
  Charter Member, 2003-present
  
  
• Federal Bar Association-Minnesota Chapter
  Board of Directors, 1995-1999, 2003- present
  Member, 1992-present
  
  
• American Bar Association
  Lt. Governor, Fourth Circuit, Law Student Division
  University of Virginia Law School, Chapter President
  University of Virginia Law School ABA/LSD Representative
  ABA Member, 1991-present

Civic Activities:

• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure, Volunteer
• National Amputee Golf Championship, Volunteer
• Minnesota Special Olympics, Volunteer
• Webster Open School Student Court, Volunteer
• Andersen Open School Board Member
• Christ Presbyterian Church
• Drug Education For Youth Camp, Volunteer Staff
• Loaves and Fishes, Volunteer
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Volunteer
• Hanover College Alumni Association, Board of Directors
• St. Paul Downtown Community District Council, Board of Directors
• Minnesota Citizens' League
• House of Hope Presbyterian Church, Fourth Grade Sunday School Teacher
• Hamline University National Moot Court Competition, Volunteer Judge
• University of Minnesota Law School National Moot Court Competition, Volunteer Judge
• Minnesota Public Radio ("MPR"), Civic Journalism Initiative/Institute on Criminal Justice University of Minnesota Law School/Minnesota Journalism Center Summit - Color of Justice - Racial Bias in the Criminal Justice System

Personal: Married, husband Kevin; Live in Minneapolis

Hobbies: Sports-I was captain of the varsity basketball, softball and volleyball teams in college, and an Academic All-American nominee in softball and volleyball. I continue to enjoy playing and watching sports. Travel Walking our dogs, Caddy and Mulligan, around Lake Harriet

Other: I teach trial advocacy at the United States Department of Justice National Advocacy Center, (Columbia, S.C.) at two-week schools for new federal prosecutors and at one-week schools for experienced federal prosecutors from all over the country. I also taught on the faculty of the Title III Wiretap Seminar for experience federal narcotics prosecutors. I also help teach trial advocacy courses at the University of Minnesota Law School. I have also been a presenter for Minnesota Institute of Legal Education (MILE), the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Minnesota State Bar Association Annual Convention, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Wiretap School, Minnesota Sheriff’s Association, Minnesota State Association of Narcotics Investigators, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Speakers Bureau.

E-mail Address: burkeforjudge@aol.com

Campaign Website: www.burkeforjudge.com

Candidacy Questions:

1. Why do you want to be a judge?
I have wanted to serve Hennepin County as a judge for a long time. I have seen the impact judges have on people’s lives, and I want to help people in that way. I am excited by the diversity of work that Hennepin County District Court offers. In addition to criminal and civil cases, judges can work in family court, juvenile court and other specialty courts. I also look forward to a high-volume, fast-paced court. Hennepin County District Court is the busiest court in the country. I look forward to the endless challenges that face the judges of Hennepin County.

2. Why should voters select you rather than your opponent in the upcoming election?
I am uniquely qualified to serve on the Hennepin County bench. A judge’s term typically begins with two years of criminal cases, followed by two years in family or juvenile court. I will use my ten years of criminal experience to ensure that justice is done for all people, regardless of who represents them. As the daughter of two family counselors, I will resolve family disputes efficiently to allow children to be placed in a stable environment quickly. I have the legal experience, judicial temperament, and work ethic to serve Hennepin County well.

3. What experience have you had in dealing with the court on which you wish to sit?
I bring 14 years of courtroom experience to the Hennepin County bench. I have been a federal prosecutor for the United States Attorney’s Office in Minneapolis for the last 10 years, where I have prosecuted white collar crime cases, narcotics and firearm cases, and violent crime cases. Prior to that, I was a civil trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. I conducted nationwide civil litigation on behalf of the FBI, CIA and other federal agencies. Before that, I was a judicial law clerk for United States District Judge Paul A. Magnuson in St. Paul.

4. What are the major issues facing the court on which you wish to serve? How can these realistically be addressed?
The most critical issue facing Minnesota’s court system is how to effectively deal with children and families. Family disputes must be resolved efficiently to allow children to be returned to their families or placed in a stable environment quickly. Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz is spearheading the Children’s Justice Initiative, the goal of which is to improve the processing of child protection cases by timely finding safe, permanent homes for abused and neglected children. I will work to make the Children’s Justice Initiative a reality as soon as possible, and work to extend its application from juvenile court to family court.

5. Do you believe it is good policy to discuss disputed legal and political issues during a judicial campaign? If so, what issues do you plan to discuss and why. If not, why shouldn't such issues be discussed?
It is not good policy to discuss disputed legal and political issues during a judicial campaign. Judges should never pre-judge issues that may come before them. A judge must fairly and impartially apply the law to the facts of each case, without regard to the judge’s personal opinions. As Cynthia Gray points out in Mark Cohen’s recent article, Waging a Legal (and Ethical) Judicial Campaign, commenting on disputed legal and political issues during a judicial campaign does a disservice to voters. The judge must then disqualify herself when those issues come before her.

6. What else, if anything, would you like the voters to know about your candidacy that you have not discussed so far?
If elected, I will impartially apply the law to the facts of each case. I will treat all participants in the court system with respect. I will listen carefully and give everyone their day in court. I will communicate decisions so everyone can understand them. I will be just. I will handle my caseload in a timely fashion. Above all else, I will work hard and be fair.