Fred Lewis
From Judgepedia
| Florida Supreme Court |
|---|
|
| Sitting justices |
| R. Fred Lewis Charles Wells Harry Lee Anstead Barbara Pariente Peggy Quince Charles Canady Ricky Polston |
| 2008 transitions |
| Charles Wells (retention) Raoul Cantero (retirement) Kenneth Bell (retirement) |
| Former justices |
| Florida on Judgepedia |
R. Fred Lewis is the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. He became a member of the court when he was appointed on December 7, 1998, by the late Gov. Lawton Chiles.
Legal Education and Experience
Justice Lewis came to Florida in 1965 to attend Florida Southern College graduating cum laude in 1969 and was awarded the NCAA Post-Graduate Grant as one of the top fifteen scholar athletes in the United States. He also received the Besser Lindsey Award as one of the top ten male university students in the United States, awarded by Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Upon graduating from college, Lewis attended the University of Miami School of Law, where he graduated cum laude in 1972. He was a member of the University of Miami Law Review and was an officer in the Student Bar Association. Selected as a Justice of the Law School Honor Council, Lewis also served on the Appellate Moot Court Teams. He was selected for the Iron Arrow, the highest honor society, and was awarded membership in Bar and Gavel, and Order of Barristers.
Upon graduation from law school, Justice Lewis attended and graduated from the United States Army A.G. School after acting as Commander of the Corps of cadets for the University of Miami ROTC program. He graduated as its top student, receiving the Order of World Wars Superior Achievement Honor. Upon discharge from the military, Lewis entered private practice in Miami, specializing in civil trial and appellate litigation. He left practice upon his appointment to the Florida Supreme Court effective January 1, 1999.[1]
Child Activist
Selected as Florida's Citizen of the Year in 2001 by the Florida Council, Justice Lewis has been heavily involved in children's issues, serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Miami Children's Hospital and many of its committees and panels. While in private practice, he was heavily involved in providing counseling to families with children having impairments and provided pro bono legal services and counseling for cancer patients seeking proper treatment for multiple conditions. In 2001 he also receivedthe "Everyday Hero" award for his outstanding contributions to community service in Florida.[2]
