Vol. 28, No. 1 #9 (February 2005). Q and A with Wyoming's Newest Supreme Court Justice.

• Author: By Mary Angell

Wyoming Bar Journal

2005.

Vol. 28, No. 1 #9 (February 2005).

Q and A with Wyoming's Newest Supreme Court Justice

WYOMING LAWYERFebruary 2005/Vol. XXVIII, No. 1Q and A with Wyoming's Newest Supreme Court JusticeBy Mary Angell

The newest justice on the Wyoming Supreme Court, E. James Burke, practiced law in Cheyenne for 24 years before being appointed a district court judge for the First Judicial District in 2001. He now replaces Justice Larry L. Lehman, who died on December 10, 2004. A fervent advocate of professionalism and personal growth in the legal field, the Hon. Jim Burke agreed to an interview with the Wyoming Lawyer so the members of bar could learn more about his career, aspirations and personal life. Following is that interview.

1. You have become known as someone who promotes and advances attorney professionalism. How did you become interested in the issue and why is it important to you?

I think my involvement in that issue came as a result of the Board of Judicial Policy, in about June of 2003. There were discussions regarding what were not the finer moments of lawyering, discussions as to the extent of the problem. We set up a subcommittee and they put me in charge of that. I started doing research on professionalism, wondering what other bar associations had done in regard to the issue. It turned out to be a fascinating subject. My approach is not negative at all in terms of trying to correct judicial/ attorney behavior.

When U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor spoke recently at the University of Wyoming, she indicated that of her Stanford law school classmates, 50 percent wish they had never become lawyers and would not do it again given the chance. She attributed it to lawyer incivility.

In checking with other states, I found out New York has an institute on professionalism - the New York Institute of Professionalism. I like their approach to the whole thing. There's not an emphasis on the negative -- the incivility, dissatisfaction. That can be cured by more professional behavior. We are all in this together, all on the same team. It doesn't do anybody any good to badmouth the court.

2. You are one of the founders of the Ewing T. Kerr Chapter of the American Inns of Court. Why did you become involved and what are your hopes for the group?

I heard about it quite a few years ago from my sister in Delaware. The lawyer she works with was involved in it. She sent me some stuff on it in the mid-90's, and it sounded interesting, but I

didn't follow through on it. I talked to her a few years after that and read about it with regard to the professionalism subcommittee and asked her to send me more information.

In reading what kinds of programs help foster professionalism and mentoring, American Inns of Court (a professional association designed to advance professionalism in the field) was always spoken of very highly. Wyoming was one of only two or three states that did not have one.

I identified ten young lawyers who had been in practice between two and eight years and had experience in a wide variety of practice areas. I...