A fourth generation Chicagoan, Eileen was born and raised on the Northwest side and graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Eileen’s deep and diverse experience working on the front lines of the justice system began when she served as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney for ten years.
After a decade as a prosecutor, Eileen worked as a criminal defense attorney, helping youth and adults seek justice and fairness in court.
In 2008, Eileen was elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County. She served for eight years, presiding over both criminal and civil court litigation.
Justice Burke has had special passion for training the newest judges and has taught Civil Procedure to every new judge in Illinois since 2012.
In 2016, she was elected Justice of the First District Appellate Court in Cook County. Justice Burke issued over 800 written decisions in both civil and criminal cases, reviewing over 1,800 trial court decisions.
During her time on the bench, Justice Burke has been asked every year to serve as Judicial Education Faculty member teaching both trial court and appellate court judges.
Eileen served as the President of the Illinois Judges Association until June of 2023 and led that organization’s classroom education efforts.
Eileen has been married to her husband John for 34 years, with whom she shares four young adult children.