Timothy K. Lewis
Encyclopedia
Timothy K. Lewis is a former federal judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
and is currently an attorney at the law firm
of Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis LLP, where he serves as the co-chair of the firm's appellate practice. He also he also serves as a mediator, arbitrator, settlement counselor. Lewis is African American
.
with a B.A.
in 1976 and from Duquesne University School of Law
with a Juris Doctor
in 1980. He worked as assistant district attorney
for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
from 1980 to 1983, and as
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania
from 1983 to 1991.
George H. W. Bush
nominated him to the bench of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
, to fill the vacancy left by Paul A. Simmons. He was confirmed by the Senate
on June 14, 1991, and received his commission on June 18, 1991.
President Bush chose to elevate Lewis again when he nominated him for a newly-created seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
on September 17, 1992. He was confirmed to this seat by the Senate on October 8, 1992, and received his commission on October 9, 1992, making him the final George H. W. Bush appeals-court nominee confirmed by the Senate. At the time of both appointments he was the youngest federal judge in the United States.
Lewis resigned his seat on June 30, 1999 to return to private practice.
, arbitrator
, and settlement counselor.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Arbitration Association
, where he also serves on the Executive Committee and chairs the Committee on Diversity in Alternative Dispute Resolution
. Lewis is a member of the AAA-sponsored National Task Force on Issues Related to the Arbitration of Consumer Debt Issues. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), where he serves on the National Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, as well as the Board’s Diversity Committee. Lewis is a member of the American Law Institute
, an honorary member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
, and serves on the Board of Advisors of the Georgetown Supreme Court Institute. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
and is currently an attorney at the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis LLP, where he serves as the co-chair of the firm's appellate practice. He also he also serves as a mediator, arbitrator, settlement counselor. Lewis is African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
.
Early career
Lewis graduated from Tufts UniversityTufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1976 and from Duquesne University School of Law
Duquesne University School of Law
Duquesne University School of Law is a private Catholic university law school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The School of Law was founded in 1911, and is the only multiple-division law school in western Pennsylvania. Located on the Duquesne University campus, the law school is walking...
with a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1980. He worked as assistant district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
from 1980 to 1983, and as
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania sits in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is composed of ten judges as authorized by federal law. The Honorable Judge Gary L. Lancaster is currently Chief Judge of the Western Pennsylvania District...
from 1983 to 1991.
Federal judicial service
Lewis' judicial career began on April 25, 1991 when PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
nominated him to the bench of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania sits in Pittsburgh, Erie, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is composed of ten judges as authorized by federal law. The Honorable Judge Gary L. Lancaster is currently Chief Judge of the Western Pennsylvania District...
, to fill the vacancy left by Paul A. Simmons. He was confirmed by the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 14, 1991, and received his commission on June 18, 1991.
President Bush chose to elevate Lewis again when he nominated him for a newly-created seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
on September 17, 1992. He was confirmed to this seat by the Senate on October 8, 1992, and received his commission on October 9, 1992, making him the final George H. W. Bush appeals-court nominee confirmed by the Senate. At the time of both appointments he was the youngest federal judge in the United States.
Lewis resigned his seat on June 30, 1999 to return to private practice.
Later career
Since resigning from the bench, Lewis has worked at Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis LLP, where he serves as co-chair of the firm's appellate practice, and offers counsel on trial and appellate matters. He also has an active alternative dispute resolution practice, and often serves as a mediatorMediation
Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution , a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties. A third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement...
, arbitrator
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
, and settlement counselor.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Arbitration Association
American Arbitration Association
The American Arbitration Association is a private enterprise in the business of arbitration, and one of several arbitration organizations that administers arbitration proceedings. The AAA also administers mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. It is headquartered in New York...
, where he also serves on the Executive Committee and chairs the Committee on Diversity in Alternative Dispute Resolution
Alternative dispute resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution includes dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation. ADR basically is an alternative to a formal court hearing or litigation...
. Lewis is a member of the AAA-sponsored National Task Force on Issues Related to the Arbitration of Consumer Debt Issues. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), where he serves on the National Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, as well as the Board’s Diversity Committee. Lewis is a member of the American Law Institute
American Law Institute
The American Law Institute was established in 1923 to promote the clarification and simplification of American common law and its adaptation to changing social needs. The ALI drafts, approves, and publishes Restatements of the Law, Principles of the Law, model codes, and other proposals for law...
, an honorary member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
The American Academy of Appellate Lawyers is a non-profit organization consisting of the Fellows who have been elected to the Academy. It was founded in 1990. Its mission is to "advance the highest standards and practices of appellate advocacy and to recognize outstanding appellate lawyers."The...
, and serves on the Board of Advisors of the Georgetown Supreme Court Institute. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.