• University Of North Carolina B.A., Political Science, 1959
• University of North Carolina J.D., 1962

Judge Burroughs practiced as a private attorney from 1965 to 1978. In 1979 he became a Resident Superior Court Judge where he served until becoming a Senior Resident Superior Court Judge in 1990. As a Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, he developed and implemented mandatory settlement conferences for civil cases as well as North Carolina's first "menu" approach to ADR. His mediated settlement conference format has been adopted statewide. In 1995, Judge Burroughs became a Senior Status Superior Court Judge, where he still serves today. Over the years as a trial judge, he has tried approximately 1600 cases to a jury verdict.

As a trial judge and mediator, Judge Burroughs has mediated approximately 3200 cases. He has completed comprehensive training on ADR, and is a certified mediator/arbitrator in the State and Federal Courts as well as Industrial Commission of North Carolina.