In this episode, we speak with former Georgia District Attorney Kelly Burke, a self-described “Wannabe Professional Skier, Irishman, Political Commentator, and Examiner of the Law.”
Kelly served as the elected DA for Houston County, Georgia, for nearly fourteen years, later working as a magistrate judge and in private practice. But it was a single case from early in his career that has haunted him for decades: the life-without-parole sentence of Jessie Askew Jr., a 24 year old convicted under Georgia’s strict recidivist law for a 1998 robbery.
As the years passed and Kelly encountered far graver crimes, he came to believe he had been too harsh on Askew. After a cancer diagnosis in 2017 and surviving hospice care three times, Kelly is convinced that the reason he is still here is to help Jesse Askew.
This is a conversation about honesty, accountability, and forgiveness. Kelly’s outlook on life really moved us, and reminded us that a simple, healthy life often begins with a clear conscience.
We hope you enjoy.