Quality. Integrity. Excellence.
From Michael’s interview for the Masters of the Courtroom series on ReelLawyers.com.
View Transcript
well I’ve been in the courtrooms now for
about 50 years in some capacity either
as a lawyer or a federal judge and when
I was on the federal bench bill I talked
to every jury after the trial for an
hour or two hours about what they
thought was important what they thought
a lawyer should do in the courtroom what
they thought the judge should do in the
courtroom and the number one answer to
that is candor
I mean if your case has got a problem
don’t try to cover it up deal with it if
you’re candid with a jury and honest
with a jury and they know you’re sincere
then they’re going to do the right thing
for you
[Music]
the length of time that I’ve been in the
practice
uh the fact that we’re involved in the
community
we know what the community needs are but
I think that just the everyday
experience of dealing with clients being
in the courtroom trying cases my
experience on the federal bench gives me
a perspective that most lawyers don’t
have when they’re in the courtroom so
the 50-year career
and all the different aspects of my
career in the legal profession I think
is what
prepares me to be in a courtroom and
doing a very effective job
Michael Burrage
- Co-founder and Managing Partner
Biography
Michael Burrage is a Co-Founder of Whitten Burrage. Michael became the first Native American Federal Judge when he was appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton in 1994. In 2016, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and in 2013, the University of Oklahoma College of Law inducted Michael into the Order of the Owl Hall of Fame. Michael is an inductee of the prestigious fellowship of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Michael has been selected as one of Oklahoma's Top 10 Attorneys by Super Lawyers Magazine.
Michael earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, where he served as editor of the Oklahoma Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Coif before graduating with honors in 1974.
Michael began his career as a partner in the law firm of Stamper & Burrage from 1974 to 1994. In 1977, he was voted Outstanding Young Lawyer in Oklahoma and served as a member of the Board of Governors from 1984 through 1986. Michael served as president of the Oklahoma Bar Association in 1990 and was awarded the Neil E. Bogan Professionalism Award in 1991.
He subsequently served as a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Oklahoma from 1994 to 2001. Michael also sat by designation of the Chief on approximately 40 cases for the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. In 2011, he returned to private practice and enjoys a success career litigating in various areas of the law.
Michael served as Chair of the Oklahoma State Committee from 2008-2009 for the American College of Trial Lawyers and in 2008, was selected as one of the Top Attorneys in Oklahoma by Oklahoma Magazine. He is a member of the Oklahoma and American Bar Associations, a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and is a member of the Oklahoma Supreme Court Committee for Civil Jury Instructions. Michael lectures at a variety of Continuing Legal Education seminar programs.
Education
- University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma
- J.D. - 1974
- Honors: Order of the Coif
- Honors: with Honors
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, Oklahoma
- B.S. - 1971
Bar Admissions
- Oklahoma, 1974
Professional Associations
- Oklahoma Bar Association, President, 1990
- American College of Trial Lawyers, 1993
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Chair, Oklahoma State Committee, 2008 to 2009
- Oklahoma Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- Oklahoma Supreme Court Committee for Civil Jury Instructions, Member
Honors
- Outstanding Young Lawyer in Oklahoma
- Neil E. Bogan Professionalism award
- "Top Attorneys in Oklahoma", Oklahoma Magazine
- Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Inductee
- Order of the Owl Hall of Fame
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Prestigious Fellowship, Inductee
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Classes & Seminars
- Continuing Legal Education
Pro-Bono Activities
- Board of Governors, 1984 to 1986
Past Positions
- Stamper & Burrage, Partner, 1974 to 1994
- Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Oklahoma, United States District Judge, 1994 to 2001
- Eastern District of Oklahoma, Chief United States District Judge, 1996 to 2001
- Federal Judge, appointed in 1991