Chief Justice Anne Burke stepping down from Illinois Supreme Court

In a surprise announcement, State Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne M. Burke said Monday she is stepping down from the state's top court effective Nov. 30 — just weeks after a general election with two other seats on the court in play.

The retirement comes a year before her husband, Ald. Ed Burke (14th), is scheduled to stand trail on federal racketeering charges.

"I have been blessed to serve as a Supreme Court Justice for the past 16 years and have loved working with my staff, colleagues and Judicial Branch staff to serve the people of Illinois," Burke said in a statement. "The past three years as Chief Justice have been a challenging time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I am thrilled with the progress made by the Illinois Courts."

Read more: