Kathleen McCree Lewis
Encyclopedia
Kathleen McCree Lewis was an American lawyer
and former federal judicial nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
.
. An African-American, Lewis earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan
in 1969 and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1973.
Lewis' father, Wade H. McCree
, was the U.S. Solicitor General from 1977 until 1981. He also was a federal appeals court judge himself, having been appointed to the Sixth Circuit by President Lyndon B. Johnson
in 1966 and serving on the Sixth Circuit until his appointment as Solicitor General.
law firm in Detroit, rising to become a partner at the firm and serving as the firm's appellate litigation specialist.
, according to a March 20, 1995 article in Crain's Detroit Business. Ultimately, however, President Bill Clinton
chose to fill that vacancy by nominating Helene White
to that vacancy; White never was confirmed, however. Clinton earlier had nominated another contender for Keith's former seat, Eric L. Clay
, to a different vacancy on the Sixth Circuit, and Clay was confirmed easily.
On September 16, 1999, President Clinton nominated Lewis to the Sixth Circuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cornelia Groefsema Kennedy
. "I'm thrilled and I feel very honored," Lewis told the Detroit Free Press in an article that appeared on September 17, 1999.
With the U.S. Senate controlled by Republicans during the final two years of Clinton's presidency, Lewis' nomination languished before being returned to the White House when Clinton's presidency ended, chiefly because of objections from Michigan's Republican senator, Spencer Abraham
.
In 2001, President Bush nominated Susan Bieke Neilson
to the Sixth Circuit seat to which Lewis had been nominated. Neilson's nomination languished for close to four years before she was confirmed in late 2005. Neilson died of cancer just two and a half months after her Senate confirmation.
's top 10 lawyers of 2006 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly magazine. In an interview for that issue, Lewis told the magazine that service to her community was part of her essence. "Both of my parents were very active in the community as I was growing up, and from that I think I perceived that responsible grownups serve their communities in a voluntary capacity," she told the magazine. "It never occurred to me not to serve."
for 12 years. Despite the fact that she had never smoked, doctors found lung cancer
in 2005, and she died of an inoperable tumor on her lung. Lewis died on the same day that her husband David Baker Lewis' mother, Dorothy Baker Lewis, died at age 92.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and former federal judicial nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Kentucky* Western District of Kentucky...
.
Early life and education
Lewis was born in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. An African-American, Lewis earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1969 and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1973.
Lewis' father, Wade H. McCree
Wade H. McCree
Wade Hampton McCree, Jr. was an American attorney, judge, public official and law professor. He was the first African American appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the second African American Solicitor General in the history of the United States...
, was the U.S. Solicitor General from 1977 until 1981. He also was a federal appeals court judge himself, having been appointed to the Sixth Circuit by President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
in 1966 and serving on the Sixth Circuit until his appointment as Solicitor General.
Professional career
In 1973, Lewis joined the Dykema GossettDykema Gossett
Dykema is a law firm founded in 1926. The firm has offices in various locations around the United States including Detroit, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. It currently employs more than 400 lawyers and lobbying professionals...
law firm in Detroit, rising to become a partner at the firm and serving as the firm's appellate litigation specialist.
Nomination to the Sixth Circuit
Lewis first was considered for a different vacancy on the Sixth Circuit. In 1995, her name appeared on the short list to replace retiring Judge Damon KeithDamon Keith
Damon Jerome Keith is a Senior Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.-Biography:Keith grew up in Detroit, where he graduated from Northwestern High School in 1939; Keith then moved on to West Virginia State College , Howard University School of Law , and Wayne State...
, according to a March 20, 1995 article in Crain's Detroit Business. Ultimately, however, President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
chose to fill that vacancy by nominating Helene White
Helene White
Helene N. White is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Previously, she was a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals.- Background :...
to that vacancy; White never was confirmed, however. Clinton earlier had nominated another contender for Keith's former seat, Eric L. Clay
Eric L. Clay
Eric Lee Clay is a United States federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.- Early life, education and legal training :...
, to a different vacancy on the Sixth Circuit, and Clay was confirmed easily.
On September 16, 1999, President Clinton nominated Lewis to the Sixth Circuit vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cornelia Groefsema Kennedy
Cornelia Groefsema Kennedy
Cornelia Groefsema Kennedy is a Senior Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.-Biography:Kennedy grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated at the top of her class from the University of Michigan Law School. After law school, she clerked for the chief judge of the U.S....
. "I'm thrilled and I feel very honored," Lewis told the Detroit Free Press in an article that appeared on September 17, 1999.
With the U.S. Senate controlled by Republicans during the final two years of Clinton's presidency, Lewis' nomination languished before being returned to the White House when Clinton's presidency ended, chiefly because of objections from Michigan's Republican senator, Spencer Abraham
Spencer Abraham
Edmund Spencer Abraham is a former United States Senator from Michigan. He served as the tenth United States Secretary of Energy, serving under President George W. Bush. Abraham is one of the founders of the Federalist Society....
.
In 2001, President Bush nominated Susan Bieke Neilson
Susan Bieke Neilson
Susan Bieke Neilson was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and before that, a state trial judge in Michigan.- Background :...
to the Sixth Circuit seat to which Lewis had been nominated. Neilson's nomination languished for close to four years before she was confirmed in late 2005. Neilson died of cancer just two and a half months after her Senate confirmation.
Life after the failed nomination
Lewis continued working at Dykema Gossett after her nomination was withdrawn. She was named one of MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
's top 10 lawyers of 2006 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly magazine. In an interview for that issue, Lewis told the magazine that service to her community was part of her essence. "Both of my parents were very active in the community as I was growing up, and from that I think I perceived that responsible grownups serve their communities in a voluntary capacity," she told the magazine. "It never occurred to me not to serve."
Illness and death
Lewis had battled breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
for 12 years. Despite the fact that she had never smoked, doctors found lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in 2005, and she died of an inoperable tumor on her lung. Lewis died on the same day that her husband David Baker Lewis' mother, Dorothy Baker Lewis, died at age 92.