Burns was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada[citation needed], but grew up in Sligo, Ireland.
[1] She frequently appeared in criminal cases for both defendants and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
[10] She was the judge in charge of the Asylum List of the High Court in 2020.
[12] Burns attended events around Ireland to promote voter participation in the referendum, including a ceremony to confer Irish citizenship on 2,500 people.
Burns endorsed the idea of having a permanent electoral commission and modernising the voter registration system.