Jean K. Burling is an American attorney and former judge. She was the first woman to be a judge in the state of New Hampshire. She served as a justice of the New Hampshire Superior Court for several decades, including on the Grafton County bench, before retiring in 2008.
Early life and education Born in Gardner, Massachusetts, Burling earned her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College. She then received a juris doctor from Boston University School of Law in 1973. Burling was the 47th woman admitted to practice law in New Hampshire.
Legal career From 1974 to 1979, Burling operated under her own law practice in Plainfield, New Hampshire. The same year, she became New Hampshire's first female judge. She served as a superior court justice on the New Hampshire Superior Court of Grafton County. Citing health reasons, she retired on January 1, 2008.
Philanthropy Burling is a co-founder of the court-supervised program, Drug Court in Grafton County. The program was intended to support offenders in breaking the cycle of addiction. She was also named a member of the Sullivan County Battered Women's Resource Group.
Personal life Together with her husband, Peter, Burling has a son, Jonathan and lives in Cornish, New Hampshire.
See also List of first women lawyers and judges in New Hampshire
References