Susan D. Burke

Susan D. Burke devoted her legal career to the defense of the accused and to the cause of indigent representation. Born October 13, 1946, in Indianapolis, she built her early practice in Indiana, where much of her work was in death penalty defense in conjunction with the Marion County Public Defender's Agency. In December 1997, that agency honored her with the Marc Emery Award, recognizing her service as a public defender and her commitment to excellence in indigent legal service.

After moving to Las Vegas in 2001, Susan continued to practice criminal law in Nevada. She served with the Clark County Public Defender's Agency, worked with Robert Langford & Associates, and maintained a solo private practice, carrying forward her long-standing focus on defending those who most needed an advocate.

In 2012, Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice named Susan the Defender of the Year - recognizing her, in the organization's words, 'for her zealous advocacy of her clients; for fighting against injustices no matter where it may lead; for her continual and consistent commitment to the betterment of the law and the legal profession; and for her passion and commitment to the pursuit of justice.' She died in Las Vegas on February 22, 2018.