Liles Burke

Liles Clifton Burke is a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on January 8, 2018, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 11, 2018, by a vote of 55-40.^[1] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Burke previously served as a judge on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals from 2011 to 2018. Governor Robert Bentley (R) appointed Burke in February 2011.^[2]

President Trump nominated Burke to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama July 19, 2017.^[3] Burke's nomination was returned to the President January 3, 2018.^[4]

Judicial nominations, appointments, and elections

United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (2018-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Burke was nominated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama by President Donald Trump (R) on January 8, 2018. The U.S. Senate confirmed Burke on October 11, 2018, by a vote of 55-40.^[1] He received commission on October 17, 2018.^[5] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
Name: Liles Clifton Burke
Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
Progress
Confirmed 276 days after nomination.
Nominated: January 8, 2018
ABA Rating: Substantial Majority Qualified, Minority Not Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
Hearing:
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
Reported: January 18, 2018
Confirmed: October 11, 2018
Vote: 55-40

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Burke on October 11, 2018, on a vote of 55-40.^[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Liles Burke confirmation vote (October 11, 2018)
Party	Yea	Nay	No vote
Democratic	5	38	4
Republican	50	0	1
Independent	0	2	0
Total	55	40	5

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Burke had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 18, 2018. The committee voted to advance Burke's nomination to the full Senate on January 18, 2018.^[1]

Nomination

Burke was nominated to replace Judge Charles Smith, who assumed senior status on August 31, 2013.

The American Bar Association rated Burke qualified by a substantial majority and not qualified by a minority for the position.^[6] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Northern District of Alabama (2017)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

President Donald Trump (R) nominated Burke July 19, 2017, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama vacated by C. Lynwood Smith. The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Burke's nomination October 4. U.S. Sen. Grassley (R-Iowa) reported Burke's nomination October 26. Burke's nomination was returned to the president January 3, 2018, under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.^[7][8]

Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals (2011-2018)

Burke served served as a judge on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals from 2011 to 2018. Governor Robert Bentley (R) appointed Burke in February 2011.^[2]

2012 election

See also: Alabama judicial elections, 2012

Burke was re-elected after running unopposed in 2012.^[9][10]

Early life and education

Burke was born in Cullman, Alabama, in 1969. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in 1991 and his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1994.^[11]

Professional career

• 2018-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
• 2011-2018: Judge, Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
• 2013-present: Captain and trial counsel, JAG Corps, Alabama Army National Guard
• 2007-2011: Judge, Marshall County District Court
• 2001-2007: Municipal judge, Arab, Alabama
• 1994-2006: Private practice, Arab, Alabama
• 1994-2001: Municipal prosecutor and municipal attorney, Arab, Alabama^[5]

Associations

• Member, Alabama Juvenile Judges Association
• Member, Alabama District Judges Association
• Member, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges^[2]

About the court

Northern District of Alabama
Eleventh Circuit
Judgeships
Posts: 8
Judges: 6
Vacancies: 2
Judges
Chief: David Proctor
Active judges: Annemarie C. Axon, Liles Burke, Madeline Haikala, Anna Manasco, Corey Maze, David Proctor Senior judges: Sharon Blackburn, Karon Bowdre, Virginia Hopkins, Inge Johnson, Charles Smith

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Anniston, Birmingham, Decatur, Florence, Gadsden, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit based in downtown Atlanta at the Elbert P. Tuttle Federal Courthouse.

The Northern District of Alabama has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

There are seven court divisions, each covering the following counties:

The Eastern Division, covering Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, and Talladega counties

The Jasper Division, covering Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, and Winston counties.

The Middle Division, covering Cherokee, Etowah, DeKalb, Marshall, and St. Clair counties.

The Northeastern Division, covering Cullman, Jackson, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, and Morgan counties.

The Northwestern Division, covering Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale counties.

The Southern Division, covering Blount, Jefferson, and Shelby counties.

The Western Division, covering Bibb, Greene, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa counties.

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

• The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
• The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

• As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

• After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

• If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
• If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

• The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

• If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
• If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.

See also

• United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
• United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
• United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
• Office of the Alabama Governor, Press Release: "Governor Bentley Appoints Marshall County District Judge to Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals," February 16, 2011
• The Gadsen Times, "Marshall County judge to fill Court of Criminal Appeals vacancy," February 16, 2011
• The Arab Tribune, "Supreme day for Burke," April 11, 2011

Footnotes