Judge
2011 - 2018

Judge Liles Burke is a native of Marshall County, Alabama, the son of Claud and Sharon Burke, and Jane and the late Sid McDonald. He attended public schools in the City of Arab and then received his undergraduate degree from The University of Alabama in 1991. In 1994, he earned his law degree from The University of Alabama School of Law. While there, he served as the student member of The University of Alabama Board of Trustees, and was inducted as a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society and The Jasons.

He was admitted to practice in the Alabama Supreme Court and the U.S. Courts in 1994 and began the practice of law with his father in the firm now known as Burke, Beuoy & Maze, handling a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. He served as both Arab's Municipal Prosecutor and City Attorney during that time, and in 2001 was named the Municipal Judge for the City of Arab. He held that office until 2006 when he was appointed Marshall County District Judge by Governor Bob Riley. In 2008 Judge Burke was elected to a full term on the District Court, without opposition.

Judge Burke began Marshall County's first family drug court, and along with District Judge Tim Riley, implemented one of Alabama's first domestic violence courts. Additionally, he served as an officer in both the Alabama District Judges Association and the Alabama Juvenile Judges Association.

In February of 2011, Judge Burke was named by Governor Robert Bentley to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, filling the office left vacant by the election of Judge Kelli Wise to the Alabama Supreme Court. He was elected to a six-year term in 2012 without opposition. Judge Burke resigned on October 17, 2018, to accept a commission as a judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

Judge Burke has been active over the past many years in several charitable and community organizations, leading the Marshall County United Way fund drive and serving as President of the Arab Chamber of Commerce. He is a Republican, a Rotarian, and an alumnus of Leadership Alabama. Judge Burke is currently serving as the President of the Alabama Appellate Judges Association. He also serves as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps of the Alabama Army National Guard, and is assigned to the 122nd Troop Support Command in Selma, Alabama.

Judge Burke is married to the former Natalie Jones of Jasper, Alabama. They have two children, Camilla Jane and Claud Liles II. The Burkes are active members of the First United Methodist Church of Arab, where Judge Burke serves as the Assistant Organist.