Burke resigns as Oconto County DA; replacement sought

Oconto County District Attorney Edward Burke Jr. has resigned, effective Sept. 1.

Burke had been on medical leave since late June. His decision to resign was publicly revealed in a news release from Gov. Tony Evers seeking applicants to fill Burke’s unexpired term.

He had been district attorney since being elected in 2012, when he defeated incumbent John Evans, and he ran unopposed for re-election in 2016 and 2020.

Evers is taking applications for the post through Sept. 21. The person who gains the appointment is expected to complete the remainder of Burke’s current term through January 2025.

The office had already been pressed after assistant district attorney Lisa Rowe resigned to take a post in Dane County. She has been continuing to work on several major cases that are still in progress in Oconto County.

A number of former and present Brown County prosecutors have been handling the case load during Burke's leave.