Background
Burns, Ellen Bree was born on December 13, 1923 in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Daughter of Vincent Thomas and Mildred Bridget (Bannon) Bree.
Burns, Ellen Bree was born on December 13, 1923 in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Daughter of Vincent Thomas and Mildred Bridget (Bannon) Bree.
Bachelor, Albertus Magnus College, 1944. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Albertus Magnus College, 1974. Bachelor of Laws, Yale University, 1947.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), University New Haven, 1981. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Sacred Heart University, 1986. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Fairfield University, 1991.
She received a Bachelor of Arts from Albertus Magnus College in 1944. She received an Bachelor of Laws from Yale Law School in 1947. She was a Special assistant, Commission to Revise the Connecticut General Statutes from 1947 to 1948.
She was an Attorney, Legislative Legal Services, State of Connecticut from 1949 to 1973.
She was a judge on the Circuit Court of Connecticut from 1973 to 1974. She was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Connecticut from 1974 to 1976.
She was a judge on the Superior Court of Connecticut from 1976 to 1978. Burns was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Burns was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on February 15, 1978, to a seat vacated by M. Joseph Blumenfeld.
She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 17, 1978, and received commission on May 18, 1978. Served as chief judge, 1988-1992 and assumed senior status on September 1, 1992. She retired on March 31, 2015.
Trustee Fairfield University, 1978-1985, Albertus Magnus College, since 1985. Member of American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Foundation, Connecticut Bar Association, New Haven County Bar Association, American Bar Foundation.
Married Joseph Patrick Burns, October 8, 1955 (deceased). Children: Mary Ellen, Joseph Bree, Kevin James.