Joseph Burke

Joseph Burke (March 2, 1888 – January 31, 1990) was the longest-tenured judge in the history of the Illinois Appellate Court. Judge Burke was born in Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland in 1888, son of Patrick Burke. His family emigrated to America in 1895, going through Ellis Island and then on to Chicago where they settled on the Near West Side. Burke worked as a newsboy, selling the Chicago Daily News for eight years. He graduated from DePaul Law School in 1909 and began practicing law in 1911. In 1917 he enlisted in the United States Army.