Michael Burrage facts for kids

Billy Michael Burrage (born June 9, 1950) is a Native American lawyer and a former federal judge. He served as a judge in the United States from 1994 to 2001.

Michael Burrage is a member of the Choctaw Nation. He was born in Durant, Oklahoma. He studied at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma College of Law. After finishing his studies, he became a private lawyer in 1974.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton chose him to be a judge for all three federal courts in Oklahoma. These courts are the Eastern, Western, and Northern United States district courts. In 1996, he became the Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. He worked for all three courts until he retired in 2001.

After retiring as a judge, he went back to being a private lawyer. He has worked for important clients like the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma. In 2016, he was honored by being added to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Education

Billy Michael Burrage was born on June 9, 1950, in Durant, Oklahoma. He is an official member of the Choctaw Nation. When he was young, he lived in Sherman, Texas. After his parents divorced, he moved with his mother to Antlers, Oklahoma.

Michael Burrage has a brother named Steve Burrage. Steve used to be the State Auditor and Inspector for Oklahoma. Michael's older son, Sean Burrage, was a member of the Oklahoma Senate. Sean also served as the President of Southeastern Oklahoma State University from 2014 to 2018.

Michael Burrage went to Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree there in 1971. Then, he went to the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He earned his law degree (called a Juris Doctor) in 1974. That same year, he started working as a lawyer at the Stamper and Burrage law firm in Antlers, Oklahoma. He worked there until 1994.

Serving as a Federal Judge

Michael Burrage became a United States district judge for all three federal courts in Oklahoma. These courts are the Western, Northern, and Eastern Districts.

President Bill Clinton nominated him for the position on March 9, 1994. The United States Senate approved his nomination on June 8, 1994. He officially became a judge on June 9, 1994. In 1996, Burrage became the Chief Judge for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. He held this important role until he left the court on March 1, 2001. He continued to serve the other two district courts as well.

Returning to Law Practice

In 2001, Michael Burrage returned to working as a private lawyer. He started his own law firm, The Burrage Law Firm, with his younger son David and his daughter-in-law Heather. In 2007, Burrage also became a Managing Partner at another law firm called the Whitten Burrage Law Firm.

In March 2015, the University of Oklahoma asked Burrage to look into a serious incident. This incident involved racism at the university in 2015. In 2016, he was recognized for his achievements and was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Working with the Choctaw Nation

In 2016, Burrage helped the Choctaw Nation in talks about water rights. These talks were with the Chickasaw Nation and the State of Oklahoma regarding Sardis Lake.

In 2022, Burrage spoke before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. He represented the Choctaw Nation. He explained that the Nation should have the right to decide who its citizens are. This is part of their tribal sovereignty, which means their right to govern themselves.

See also

• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in the United States
• List of Native American jurists