As an advocate for social justice and equity in the legal profession, Mr. Lewis has been involved in numerous advisory boards and professional organizations throughout his career, including service as a Criminal Justice Act panel representative to the national conference and local federal criminal defense training coordinator. He is the former chair of the Lafayette County Democratic Executive Committee, a former board director of the ACLU of Mississippi, and recently retired his membership on the University of Mississippi's Institutional Review Board, where he had served since 1999, and a former chairman of the Mississippi branch of the Sierra Club. In recognition of his outstanding record of practice, Mr. Lewis holds an AV preeminent peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He remains professionally affiliated with the Lafayette County Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar Association and is a longtime supporter of environmental protection organizations. He continues to practice law in state and federal courts.
DUI/DWI
An amendment to the Mississippi DUI law last fall steps back from 30 plus years of toughening the consequences of a DUI arrest, at least for first- time arrestees. Now, if a first-time arrestee submitted to a breath test, or a breath test was unavailable, he or she will be eligible for non-adjudication--that is, avoidance of a conviction, upon meeting certain conditions. Even suspension of the driving privilege may be avoided if the driver is willing to have an ignition interlock device installed in the vehicle. For more details or consultation, call 662 234-0766 for assistance. Return to News
Wrongful Death
The Lewis Law Firm recently settled wrongful death claims on behalf of an estate and heirs of an inmate who died while incarcerated in a prison managed by a private corporation. The terms of the settlement are confidential. Return to News
Misdemeanors
Steven Haynes, Clarksdale, Mississippi, settled his claims against two Clarksdale police officers for unreasonable seizure and use of excessive force. The case arose out of a February, 2010 arrest and prosecution of Haynes on misdemeanor and felony charges. He stood trial on both charges in the municipal and circuit courts. The municipal judge never ruled and the circuit judge dismissed the felony charge after the State rested its case. The federal civil rights case has followed. Haynes is represented by Attorney Ron Lewis of Oxford. Return to News
Shoplifting
As of July 1, 2010 convictions for six types of felonies may for the first time be expunged. The law is retroactive, which means that felony convictions prior to July 1 may be expunged. The felonies are bad check offense, simple possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia, false pretense, larceny, felony malicious mischief, and felony shoplifting. However, expungement of any of these felonies may not occur until a minimum of five years after successful completion of all terms and conditions of the sentence of conviction. Only one conviction may be expunged. Passage of this law greatly expands the remedy for those who have straightened out their lives after paying their debt to society for a past mistake. Some estimate that thousands of Mississippians may be eligible for expungement of prior crimes. The Lewis Law Firm stands ready to assist those in need who meet the above requirements. Return to News
Mr. Lewis is an attorney with more than four decades of practice dedicated to civil rights, employment discrimination and environmental protection cases. Developing his interest in legal services in a rather circuitous fashion, he attained a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College in 1965, majoring in French language and literature. He then was awarded a French government grant allowing him to work as an English teaching assistant for an academic year in a high school of the city of Orleans, France. He then returned to the U.S. and earned a Master of Arts in teaching French at Harvard University in 1969 and spent several years exploring careers in education, journalism and artist blacksmithing before enrolling in law school. Driven by a desire to help defend individuals, communities and the environment, and by sensing that his skills would be better used in a legal setting than a journalistic one, Mr. Lewis attended the University of Mississippi School of Law, completing a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1978.
In addition to my concentration in the above areas, I handle personal injury and wrongful death cases, family law cases, professional liability cases and have had several cases which defy definition, such as inverse condemnation. In civil cases I generally represent the plaintiff. In criminal cases I represent the defendant. I have represented several citizens’ groups in environmental matters relating to the siting of landfills and electric power sub-stations. I also have represented clients in election contests.