The Illinois Supreme Court’s third female justice was sworn in today at the Daley Center in Chicago. Anne Burke replaces retiring Justice Ann McMorrow.

During the ceremony, current and past Illinois leaders sang Burke’s praises.

She was the first woman appointed to the state’s court of claims, served 11 years as an appellate judge, headed a panel on Catholic church sex abuse and worked for former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar.

But the new justice has even stronger ties to state Democrats. She’s married to the chairman of the city council’s finance committee, Ald. Ed Burke.

Burke promises to consider recusing herself if confronted with a case involving the Democratic party or the city.

Burke says, “I’m constantly on the lookout for any possible - what appears to be, which I might not even think is an appearance of - impropriety or conflict. I go the opposite way.”

Burke was appointed to the court by its other justices. Her term runs through 2008.