Magistrate judge chosen for the District of Delaware

August 19, 2011

Delaware: The newest federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Christopher J. Burke, was sworn into his position in August of 2011. Burke had been a federal prosecutor with the District of Delaware since 2006. He is 35 years of age and his swearing-in ceremony was attended by a small gathering of family.

Burke is filling the seat left open when Leonard Stark was elevated to an Article III judgeship with the District of Delaware. There is still another vacant seat on that bench however, dating from the retirement of Joseph J. Farnan, Jr. in 2010. Delaware State Prosecutor Richard G. Andrews has been nominated by Barack Obama to fill that seat; if confirmed by the Senate, this will be the first time the District of Delaware has been fully staffed since 2006.