Anne
McGlone Burke, 62, made a name for herself in 1968 as a young
Chicago Park District physical education teacher. She helped convene
the first International Special Olympics at Soldier Field.
With
four children under 10 in her house, she completed her college
and law degrees. She won a high-profile class action suit against
retail stores for over-charging taxes on feminine hygiene products.
In
1987, then-Gov. Jim Thompson appointed Burke to the Illinois Court
of Claims. In 1993, Burke and other women investors considered
seeking a riverboat gambling license. In 1994, Gov. Edgar appointed
her special counsel for child welfare services.
Being
married to Ald. Edward Burke (14th) opened doors for her, but
she had to succeed or fail on her own, she said.
"He
didn't take the bar for me," she said.
In
1995 Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow appointed her to
the state Appellate Court. Burke was elected in 1996.
The
Illinois State Bar Association found Burke "exceptionally well-qualified."
Even the Chicago Council of Lawyers, which found her "not qualified"
because of insufficient experience, said: "Justice Burke is widely
praised as having excellent temperament and as being a person
committed to the public interest."
Burke's
role on the lay panel appointed by Catholic bishops to advise
them on the priest sex-abuse issue showed she was willing to stand
up to authority, fans say. Burke politely told bishops she would
do the talking and then they could ask questions.
Other
women on the Appellate Court may get higher ratings from the bar
groups, but Burke's fans say she has skills they don't have to
succeed on the high court.
With
her strong personality, "She might be more willing to take some
stands on the court that might offend some people, maybe even
some people who support her," said Southern Illinois University
Law Professor William Schroeder.
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© 2006, The
Sun-Times Company