Burnie Bridge

Burneatta L. "Burnie" Bridge (born September 16, 1948) is a retired American lawyer and jurist from Wisconsin. She was a judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in the Madison-based 4th appellate district. She was appointed by Governor Jim Doyle in 2007, and had previously served as his chief deputy when he was Attorney General of Wisconsin. She retired from the court in January 2010. Earlier in Doyle's gubernatorial administration, she served as chair of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and was administrator of the Division of Children and Family Services in the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services.

Early life and education Burnie Bridge was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 1948. She attended Miami University in Ohio and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English literature in 1970. After obtaining her degree, she moved to Mississippi to work for the ACLU, but eventually moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where she entered the University of Wisconsin Law School. She earned her J.D. in 1982. Governor Doyle solicited applicants for the job. Bridge was one of six finalists interviewed; she officially received the appointment on January 22, 2007. Deininger left office on January 31. Bridge was elected to a full six-year term without opposition in 2008, but announced just 18 months later that she would retire. She left office in January 2010. Incumbent state representative Gary Sherman was appointed to succeed her.

Bridge is a member of a number of professional boards. She has been a guest instructor at the University of Wisconsin Law School and a Mentor in the University of Wisconsin Law School Legal Education Opportunities Program.