--- title: "R. Fred Lewis | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-fred-lewis-4045" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-22" --- # R. Fred Lewis Supreme Court of Florida · Judge ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of Florida - State: Florida - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Supreme Court of Florida, 1998-present - R. Fred Lewis (Richard Fred Lewis, 1947–2026) was an American jurist who served on the Florida Supreme Court for 20 years, including as Chief Justice from 2006 to 2008, and was recognized for his judicial leadership, civic education, and public service - Lewis entered the private practice of law following his discharge from the army - Led efforts to improve public access to justice for disabled persons by mandating audits of Florida court facilities ### Education - University of Miami School of Law in — J.D. (1972) - Florida Southern College — B.A. ### Additional information - Appointed to the Supreme Court of Florida on December 7, 1998, by Governor Lawton Chiles, Lewis served until January 8, 2019. - Justice Sandra Day O’Connor National Award for Civic Education (2014) for his work with Justice Teaching - Began his judicial career January 1, 1999, when he was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court. - He attended Florida Southern College (graduating cum laude in 1969) and later the University of Miami School of Law (1972), where he was a member of the Law Review and officer of the student bar association - Born December 14, 1947 in Beckley, West Virginia, to a coal mining family, Lewis excelled academically and athletically at Woodrow Wilson High School, earning All‐State and All‐American honors and the Pete George Memorial Award. - Date of birth: 1947-01-01 - Awards and associations Awards Associations - Military service Lewis served in the U.S. Army - He also held the role of liaison to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners for 13 years, pushing for higher academic and character standards for law admissions - Birth place: Beckley ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media and still photography Scope: statewide Electronic media and still-photography coverage is allowed in Florida public trial and appellate proceedings under Rule 2.450's equipment and conduct standards, always subject to the presiding judge's control of decorum, distractions, and fair administration. Evidence excerpt: Subject at all times to the authority of the presiding judge to: (i) control the conduct of proceedings before the court; (ii) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; and (iii) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause, electronic media and still photography coverage of public judicial proceedings in the appellate and trial courts of this state shall be allowed [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4045/r-fred-lewis/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4045/r-fred-lewis/) - [Supreme Court of Florida current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4045/r-fred-lewis/) - [Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage](https://ninthcircuit.org/florida-rule-judicial-administration-2450) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4045/r-fred-lewis/) - [Justice R. Fred Lewis / Former Justices / About the Court / The Court - - Florida Supreme Court](https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/the-court/about-the-court/former-justices/justice-r.-fred-lewis#:~:text=He%20graduated%20as%20its%20top,Court%20effective%20January%201%2C%201999.) - [Fred Lewis](https://ballotpedia.org/Fred_Lewis) - [Wikidata: R. Fred Lewis](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7273629) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-fred-lewis-4045", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-fred-lewis-4045", "name": "R. Fred Lewis | KnowJudges", "description": "R. Fred Lewis, Supreme Court of Florida. 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