Matt Woolbright

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Municipal Court Judge Young Min Burkett's qualifications to serve on the bench are no longer in question, so now she waits.

Burkett was placed on unpaid leave in May after city leaders discovered she was not a United States citizen, which made her unqualified to serve as a judge.

She had 90 days to obtain citizenship. She did it in 51.

"I submitted a request to expedite and it was granted," Burkett told reporters Friday. "I'm very grateful it was processed in a short period of time, and I'm ready to get back to work."

The ceremony itself lasted less than a minute, but it was a special time for all parties involved, including U.S. District Judge Nelva Ramos who administered the oath of citizenship.

"Everyone thinks so highly of her," Ramos said. "She's obviously well-respected in the community."

Burkett's supporters, who numbered more than 30, were easily the most Ramos had seen for a single person at a citizenship ceremony.

Among the crowd were nearly a dozen judges, several private attorneys and representatives from District Attorney Mark Gonzalez's office and U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold's office.

"It shows that with hard work anything can be achieved," Gonzalez said. "I'm sure she will continue to rise career-wise and anything else she puts her mind to; we're here to support that."

Burkett's quick approval for citizenship was a result of her getting granted an expedited review by the United States Customs and Immigration Services office in San Antonio, which she applied for immediately after being placed on unpaid leave in May, husband Nathan Burkett said.

A review of the city's application for the position showed citizenship was not asked — only the applicant's ability to legally work in the United States, which Burkett possessed as a permanent legal resident.

Burkett never claimed to be a citizen with the city, nor did she register to vote with the county, her husband explained.

Those were factors in the United States Customs and Immigration Services' decision to grant the Burketts' request for an expedited citizenship process, he said.

"She has been eligible for it for a long time, but we just haven’t done it partly because she would have to give up her South Korean citizenship," he explained.

Neither the United States nor South Korea permit dual citizenship, so it was impossible for Burkett to carry both passports, Burkett added.

It was her love for the municipal court judgeship that spurred her to change her mind and forfeit her South Korean citizenship to become an American citizen, her husband said.

"It was hard for me to give up my (Korean) citizenship, but I always wanted to be a U.S. citizen," Young Burkett said. "Finally, to serve this community I decided to become a U.S. citizen, and I'm glad I made that decision."

While the couple is hopeful Burkett will be reinstated as a judge, Nathan Burkett said they are waiting for the City Council to make that decision.

See Burkett comment on being a citizen on Caller.com