Judge Russell Burke

  • Education: A.A. (Utah Valley University); B.S. in Sociology (Brigham Young University); J.D. (Lewis & Clark Law School, 2005).
  • Bar Admission: California State Bar, admitted 2007.
  • Appointed: June 27, 2023 by Governor Gavin Newsom (to fill the vacancy left by Judge Michael B. Sheltzer).
  • Courtroom Assignment: Superior Court of California, County of Tulare, Visalia Division – Department 7 (North County Civil, plaintiff’s last name M–Z).
  • Term/Election History: Assumed office 2023; current term expires January 6, 2025. Burke ran as the incumbent in the March 5, 2024 judicial primary.
  • Political Affiliation: Registered without party preference (nonpartisan).

Education and Legal Career Background

Judge Burke earned an Associate’s degree from Utah Valley University and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Brigham Young University. He received his Juris Doctor in 2005 from Lewis & Clark Law School. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 2007. Early in his career, Burke worked for the Utah County Juvenile Court before attending law school. After law school he briefly worked in the private sector, then in 2007 moved to Visalia and served as a deputy district attorney in the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office (2007–2011). In 2011 he transitioned to private practice with Williams Brodersen & Pritchett LLP and later became a named partner in 2018 when the firm was renamed Williams, Brodersen, Pritchett & Burke LLP. In private practice his work focused on business and estate planning, real estate, agricultural law, and civil litigation. He has been active in the local legal community (Tulare County Bar Association).

Judicial Appointment and Service

Governor Newsom announced Burke’s appointment to the Tulare County Superior Court on June 27, 2023. At that time, Burke was a partner at his law firm and a former deputy district attorney. He fills the vacancy created by the mandatory retirement of Judge Michael B. Sheltzer. Burke assumed office in 2023; under California law his current appointed term runs through January 6, 2025. (To continue on the bench, he must run for a full six-year term in the next election.) Official records list him as registered without party preference, reflecting the nonpartisan status of judicial positions.

Courtroom Assignments

Judge Burke is assigned to Department 7 of the Visalia (North County) branch of the Tulare Superior Court. Under the court’s assignments effective October 2025, Department 7 handles civil cases in which the first plaintiff’s surname begins with M, N, O, P, Q, T, U, V, W, X, Y, or Z. His daily calendar includes civil law-and-motion hearings, case management conferences, settlements conferences, restraining order hearings (elder abuse, civil harassment), unlawful detainer trials, conservatorships and guardianships, minor’s cases, and related matters. Notably, Burke presides over the court’s CARE Act calendar (Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act) on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. in Department 7, hearing cases that offer treatment plans for severely mentally ill adults.

Notable Cases and Rulings

No major published appellate opinions or high-profile case reports have surfaced in the available sources since Judge Burke took the bench. His tenure is relatively recent (beginning mid-2023), and he handles primarily local civil and family law matters. If any of his decisions are appealed, those outcomes would appear in appellate court records; none were identified in our search. In short, there is no public record yet of any landmark rulings authored by Judge Burke.

Judicial Philosophy

Judge Burke has not publicly articulated a specific judicial philosophy in speeches or writings accessible in the connected sources. As a former prosecutor and civil practitioner, he likely approaches cases from a law-and-order and practical standpoint, but no direct evidence of his ideological leanings is available. California trial judges do not run on party lines, and the governor’s announcement and professional profiles emphasize Burke’s experience rather than a partisan or philosophical label.

Professional Reputation

Burke’s appointment was supported by a substantial record of professional experience. The Governor’s press release highlights his years as a deputy district attorney and law firm partner. He is active in the local legal community as a member of the Tulare County Bar Association. There are no reports of professional misconduct or controversy in the sources examined. In sum, available information portrays Judge Burke as a competent and well-regarded attorney-turned-judge, though no independent evaluations (such as peer review ratings) were found in public records.

Ethics and Discipline

There is no indication of any ethics complaints or disciplinary actions against Judge Burke. The California State Bar’s records show he has been a member since 2007 and list no disciplinary history. Likewise, there are no news reports of judicial misconduct. At present, Judge Burke appears to have a clean professional record.

Community Involvement

Outside the courtroom, Burke is known for community service. He has served on the board of CASA of Tulare County (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a nonprofit that supports foster children. Local CASA materials celebrated his role as Board President at the time of his judicial appointment. He is also affiliated with the J. Reuben Clark Law Society. Personal profiles note that he and his wife are active in their children’s sports and other community activities. In summary, Judge Burke maintains strong ties to his community through service and volunteer leadership.