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In 1970, Burchett graduated from the LSU Law Center and began practicing law in [[Bossier City]], of which he was also the c ity attorney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasc.org/community_outreach/in_memoriam/Burchett_Dewey.asp|title=In Memoriam: Retired 26th JDC Judge Dewey E. Burchett Jr.|publisher=lasc.org|accessdate=June 26, 2015}}</ref> As the attorney for the Bossier Parish Levee Board, he worked  during the 1970s with the congressional delegation to secure funding for the locks and dams essential for the navigation of the Red River. In his earlier years, Burchett was president of the Bossier City Jaycees. He was a member of the Bossier City Lions International and taught [[Sunday school]] at the Benton [[United Methodist]] Church.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=dewey-e-burchett&pid=136246364#sthash.bT5PepbS.dpuf|title=Dewey E. Burchett Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=November 22, 2009|accessdate=June 26, 2015}}</ref>​

In 1970, Burchett graduated from the LSU Law Center and began practicing law in [[Bossier City]], of which he was also the c ity attorney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasc.org/community_outreach/in_memoriam/Burchett_Dewey.asp|title=In Memoriam: Retired 26th JDC Judge Dewey E. Burchett Jr.|publisher=lasc.org|accessdate=June 26, 2015}}</ref> As the attorney for the Bossier Parish Levee Board, he worked  during the 1970s with the congressional delegation to secure funding for the locks and dams essential for the navigation of the Red River. In his earlier years, Burchett was president of the Bossier City Jaycees. He was a member of the Bossier City Lions International and taught [[Sunday school]] at the Benton [[United Methodist]] Church.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=dewey-e-burchett&pid=136246364#sthash.bT5PepbS.dpuf|title=Dewey E. Burchett Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=November 22, 2009|accessdate=June 26, 2015}}</ref>​

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A member of the Bossier Parish [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Executive Committee,<ref name=whoswho/> Burchett was elected in 1988 to the 26th Judicial District Court for Bossier and Webster parishes. He defeated his fellow Democrat, Bobby Lee Stromile (born September 1951)<ref>etArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 18,143 (64 percent) to 10,205 (36 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns: Bossier and Webster parishes, October 1, 1988.</ref>​

A member of the Bossier Parish [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Executive Committee,<ref name=whoswho/> Burchett was elected in 1988 to the 26th Judicial District Court for Bossier and Webster parishes. He defeated his fellow Democrat, Bobby Lee Stromile (born September 1951), 18,143 votes (64 percent) to 10,205 (36 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns: Bossier and Webster parishes, October 1, 1988.</ref>​

Burchett held the judgeship, unopposed until 2008, when he was narrowly unseated by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] former assistant district attorney Michael Craig, who polled 12,182 votes (51 percent) to Burchett's 11,683 (49 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042008/10042008_MultiParish.html​

Burchett held the judgeship, unopposed until 2008, when he was narrowly unseated by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] former assistant district attorney Michael Craig, who polled 12,182 votes (51 percent) to Burchett's 11,683 (49 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042008/10042008_MultiParish.html​

|title=Election Results|date=October 4, 2008|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=June 26, 2015}}</ref>​

|title=Election Results|date=October 4, 2008|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=June 26, 2015}}</ref>​

From his marriage to the former Patricia "Pat" Bolender (born May 1942), Burchett had two sons, [[insurance]] agent Dewey Burchett, III (born December 1967), and Edward Bolender Burchett (born (October 1972), both Republicans. Burchett died unexpectedly in a local hospital two days after his seventieth birthday. He was [[Cremation|cremated]]. His honorary pallbearers included the state Senator Robert Roy Adley, former Bossier City interim [[Mayor]] [[Frank Blackburn]], retired 26th Judicial District Judge [[Graydon K. Kitchens, Jr.]], past judicial candidate Whitley Robert "Whit" Graves, and former Bossier City Judge [[Rogers M. Prestridge]].<ref name=obit/>​

From his marriage to the former Patricia "Pat" Bolender (born May 1942), Burchett had two sons, [[insurance]] agent Dewey Burchett, III (born December 1967), and Edward Bolender Burchett (born (October 1972), both Republicans. Burchett died unexpectedly in a local hospital two days after his seventieth birthday. He was [[Cremation|cremated]]. His honorary pallbearers included the state Senator Robert Roy Adley, former Bossier City interim [[Mayor]] [[Frank Blackburn]], retired 26th Judicial District Judge [[Graydon K. Kitchens, Jr.]], past judicial candidate Whitley Robert "Whit" Graves, and former Bossier City Judge [[Rogers M. Prestridge]].<ref name=obit/>​

 

[[Charles Scott]], the Caddo Parish district attorney who died in 2015, recalled Burchett as "... dedicated and hard-working ... very committed and very conscientious."<ref name=jdb>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveport.com/shrevetalk/viewupdate.php?id=1846|title=Former Bossier-Webster District Judge Dewey Burchett Jr. Dies at Age 70|publisher=Shreveport.com|date=November 22, 2009|accessdate=June 26, 2015}}</ref>  Scott noted that he and Burchett formerly served on numerous judicial committees which addressed issues affecting all state judges.<ref name=jdb/>

[[Charles Scott]], the Caddo Parish district attorney who died in 2015, recalled Burchett as "... dedicated and hard-working ... very committed and very conscientious."<ref name=jdb>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveport.com/shrevetalk/viewupdate.php?id=1846|title=Former Bossier-Webster District Judge Dewey Burchett Jr. Dies at Age 70|publisher=Shreveport.com|date=November 22, 2009|accessdate=June 26, 2015}}</ref>  Scott noted that he and Burchett formerly served on numerous judicial committees which addressed issues affecting all state judges.<ref name=jdb/>