Prof. David Attard, director, IMLI writes:

Prof. William T. Burke, an internationally distinguished scholar of law and marine affairs, passed away on July 4. His sudden death is greatly mourned by the entire international community.

Prof. Burke was born in 1926 in Brazil, Indiana. After completing high school and a brief stint in the US Army, he started his academic career by obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University, in two-and-a-half years and at the top of his class, followed by his law degree in 1953.

He attended Yale Law School where he obtained his Doctorate in Juridical Science (JSD) degree in 1959. Prof. Emeritus Burke joined the Law School’s faculty in 1968, after teaching at the Yale Law School and the Ohio State University College of Law for 12 years. He served on the faculty of both the University of Washington School of Law and School of Marine Affairs from 1968 to 1996.

Following the publication of his first book The Public Order of the Oceans (co-authored with Myres S. McDougal) in 1962, Prof. Burke was recognised as the outstanding authority on international law of the sea and remained a scholarly and policy leader on the world scene for many years.

His book The New International Law of Fisheries was another important scholarly contribution which was translated into Japanese in 1996. By his retirement he had been widely published in over 300 law journals, served as an expert and lecturer throughout the world, influenced generations of professionals, and substantially shaped the law, policy and many institutions related to the law of the ocean.

Prof. Burke was also a supporter of the academic activities of the International Maritime Law Institute.

On behalf of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to his family for their sad loss.