Judge Edward Burke Sr. of Southampton, NY; ethical leprechaun

The state of Vermont presented Edward D. Burke Sr. with a law license in 1969 after he graduated from St. Johns University of Law School.

The New York Commission on Judicial Conduct found Judge Burke guilty of the following misconduct.

In one matter, Eddie found it acceptable to jump in a police car inhabited by a drunken driving suspect he had just arraigned. Eddie then recommended that the defendant to hire an attorney that he was doing business with.

Eddie also misused his judicial title to promote his law firm, and also made improper political contributions.

Over a four-year period of time, Eddie imposed fines in more than 200 traffic cases that exceeded the maximum amount authorized by New York law and did so despite being advised by a court clerk that the fines were too high.

As a consequence of his misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Judicial Commission punished Eddie by gifting him with a complimentary censure.

As we speak (ca. June 2014), Eddie remains employed as a Judge on the Southampton Justice Court in addition to working as an attorney with Burke & Sullivan at 41 Meeting House Lane in Southampton, New York.