Born in
Los Angeles,
California, Burrell was in the
United States Marine Corps during the
Vietnam War, from 1966 to 1968. He received a
Bachelor of Arts degree from
California State University, Los Angeles, in 1972, a
Master of Social Work from the
George Warren Brown School of Social Work at
Washington University in St. Louis in 1976, and a
Juris Doctor from
California Western School of Law in
San Diego in 1976. In 1972, he was the manager of a liquor store based in
Los Angeles, California.
Federal judicial service On August 1, 1991, Burrell was nominated by President
George H. W. Bush to a new seat on the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California created by 104 Stat. 5089. He was confirmed by the
United States Senate on February 27, 1992, and received his commission on March 2, 1992. He served as chief judge of the district from 2007 to 2008. == See also ==