Born in Los Angeles, California, Burrell was in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, from 1966 to 1968.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Los Angeles, in 1972, a Master of Social Work from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis in 1976, and a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in San Diego in 1976.

In 1972, he was the manager of a liquor store based in Los Angeles, California.

He was a deputy chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California from 1979 to 1985.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 27, 1992, and received his commission on March 2, 1992.