Burton Flanagan is a 74-year-old, retired lawyer. He graduated from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law. Flanagan practiced law in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, mainly with the City of Tuscaloosa Legal Department. Flanagan's wife is a retired school teacher, and later was a Christian educator, who performed several administrative functions in addition to her educational responsibilities. Flanagan and his wife now reside in Birmingham, Al.