Ellen Bree Burns

Ellen Bree Burns (December 13, 1923 – June 3, 2019) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.

Ellen Bree Burns
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
In office September 1, 1992 – June 3, 2019
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
In office 1988–1992
Preceded by	T. F. Gilroy Daly
Succeeded by	José A. Cabranes
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
In office May 18, 1978 – September 1, 1992
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Mosher Joseph Blumenfeld
Succeeded by	Alvin W. Thompson
Personal details
Born	December 13, 1923 New Haven, Connecticut
Died	June 3, 2019 (aged 95) New Haven, Connecticut
Education	Albertus Magnus College (BA) Yale Law School (LLB)

Education and career

Burns was born in New Haven, Connecticut. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Albertus Magnus College in 1944. She received a Bachelor of Laws from Yale Law School in 1947. She was a special assistant to the Commission to Revise the Connecticut General Statutes from 1947 to 1948. She was an attorney for Legislative Legal Services of the State of Connecticut from 1949 to 1973. She was a judge of the Circuit Court of Connecticut from 1973 to 1974. She was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Connecticut from 1974 to 1976. She was a judge of the Superior Court of Connecticut from 1976 to 1978.[1]

Federal judicial service

Burns was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on February 15, 1978, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut vacated by Judge Mosher Joseph Blumenfeld. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 17, 1978, and received her commission on May 18, 1978.[2] She served as Chief Judge from 1988 to 1992 and assumed senior status on September 1, 1992. She took inactive senior status on March 31, 2015, meaning that while she remained a federal judge, she no longer heard cases or participated in the business of the court.[1] She died on June 3, 2019, aged 95.[3]

References

1. Ellen Bree Burns at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. Sullo, Michelle Tuccitto (March 25, 2012). "Revered Judge Ellen Bree Burns, 88, still rules". The New Haven Register. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
3. Murdock, Zach (June 3, 2019). "Ellen Bree Burns, first female federal judge in Connecticut, dies at 95". courant.com. Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 4, 2019.

Sources

• Ellen Bree Burns at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Who's Who of International Women 2002