Martin P. Burks
Encyclopedia
Martin Parks Burks (some sources give the date of his birth as 1850) was born in Bedford County, Virginia
. His father was Judge Edward C. Burks
, who served on the Supreme Court of Appeals
from 1876 to 1882. Martin Burks attended Washington and Lee University
when he was only fifteen years old. He later entered the University of Virginia
and graduated with a Bachelor of Law Degree. In 1872, he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in Bedford County in partnership with his father. This partnership continued until his father became a member of the Supreme Court of Appeals. The younger Burks remained in practice at Bedford until he returned to Washington and Lee in 1900 as a professor of law. Three years later he was made dean of the law department
where he stayed until he was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals
in 1917. Judge Burks was on the court until he resigned on April 16, 1928, because of ill health. He died shortly before his resignation became effective. Because of his enthusiasm and extensive study of the law, Judge Burks wrote a monograph in 1893, which was published as Burks on Separate Estates. This was adopted as a textbook by practically every law school in Virginia. In 1913, his book on common law, Burks’ Pleading and Practice, was published. It immediately became the authority to lawyers and jurists on the subjects it included, and it was also adopted as a textbook by the law schools in Virginia.
Bedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
. His father was Judge Edward C. Burks
Edward C. Burks
Edward Calohill Burks was an American jurist.Burks was born in Bedford County, Virginia, the son of Martin Parks Burks, a successful farmer, and Louise Claiborne Spinner. He attended several schools when he was a boy, among them, the New London Academy...
, who served on the Supreme Court of Appeals
Supreme Court of Virginia
The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears appeals from the trial-level city and county Circuit Courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that go through the Court of Appeals of Virginia. It is one of...
from 1876 to 1882. Martin Burks attended Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
when he was only fifteen years old. He later entered the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and graduated with a Bachelor of Law Degree. In 1872, he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in Bedford County in partnership with his father. This partnership continued until his father became a member of the Supreme Court of Appeals. The younger Burks remained in practice at Bedford until he returned to Washington and Lee in 1900 as a professor of law. Three years later he was made dean of the law department
Washington and Lee University School of Law
The Washington and Lee University School of Law is a private American Bar Association-accredited law school located in Lexington in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Facilities are currently on the campus of Washington and Lee University in Sydney Lewis Hall...
where he stayed until he was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals
Supreme Court of Virginia
The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears appeals from the trial-level city and county Circuit Courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative law cases that go through the Court of Appeals of Virginia. It is one of...
in 1917. Judge Burks was on the court until he resigned on April 16, 1928, because of ill health. He died shortly before his resignation became effective. Because of his enthusiasm and extensive study of the law, Judge Burks wrote a monograph in 1893, which was published as Burks on Separate Estates. This was adopted as a textbook by practically every law school in Virginia. In 1913, his book on common law, Burks’ Pleading and Practice, was published. It immediately became the authority to lawyers and jurists on the subjects it included, and it was also adopted as a textbook by the law schools in Virginia.