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Justice R. Fred Lewis Florida Supreme Court Papers, 1998-2018

 

Summary

Creator:
Lewis, R. Fred, Justice
Extent:
20 Linear Feet
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Justice R. Fred Lewis Florida Supreme Court Papers highlight his career on the Florida Supreme Court from 1998 to 2018 when he retired. The collection consists of the following series arranged chronologically and then alphabetically: 2000 Election, 2004 Election, Case Logs, Committees, Correspondence, Financial, Florida Court Education Council, Opinions, and Personal Artefacts. The latter category includes awards Justice Lewis received. Correspondence and court documents provide an insight into the day-to-day operations of a state supreme court. Of special interest are the files, newspapers articles, and correspondence surrounding the 2000 presidential election, ballot recounts, Florida Supreme Court Rulings, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Additional documents highlight Justice Lewis's activities with the Justice Teaching Institute, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, several professional organizations, and his dedication to making court access equitable for people with disabilities.

Biographical / historical:

Richard Fred Lewis (born December 14, 1947) was appointed to the Supreme Court of Florida on December 7, 1998. From 2006-2008, he served as Chief Justice, and then again as Justice until his retirement in 2019. Notable during his tenure was the Florida Supreme Court's involvement in the 2000 presidential election. While serving as Chief Justice, Lewis founded Justice Teaching, an organization that has over 4,000 volunteer lawyers and judges placed with and active in all Florida public schools. The organization's goal is to enhance civic and law-related education through active programs in all levels of Florida schools. Lewis was born in Beckley, West Virginia and graduated in 1969 from Florida Southern College. He then attended the University of Miami School of Law, where he graduated third in his class, cum laude, in 1972. Justice R. Fred Lewis is a veteran of the United States Army, and practiced law in Miami until his appointment to the Florida Supreme Court. After retirement from the Supreme Court Lewis moved to Lakeland and now serves as the Eminent Professor of Law and Letters at Florida Southern College. He is the founder of Justice Teaching which is also now at Florida Southern and relocated to the Justice Teaching Center for Civic Learning.

Acquisition information:
This collection was donated to the Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay, Jr. Archives by Justice Lewis in 2019.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in the following series: 2000 Election; 2000 Election Newspaper Articles; 2004 Election; Case Logs; Committees; Correspondence; Financial; Florida Court Education Council; Opinions

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research. Researchers must contact McKay Archives in advance for access to unprocessed born digital materials in this collection. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the SPCUA's ability to provide access to unprocessed born digital materials.

Terms of access:

The Justice R. Fred Lewis Florida Supreme Court Papers are owned by Florida Southern College. This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Please inquire if you have questions - archives@flsouthern.edu.

Location of this collection:
Florida Southern College
111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.
Lakeland
FL
33801
USA