Former Justice Fred Lewis honored for his commitment to civics education

Former Justice Fred Lewis honored for his commitment to civics education


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Justice Fred Lewis, shown here teaching civics to students through the Justice Teaching initiative he created while serving on the Florida Supreme Court, is being award the ABA’s Burnham “Hod” Greeley Award that recognizes those who “significantly and positively” impact public understanding of the judiciary’s role in a democratic society.

Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Fred Lewis is being honored with the ABA’s 2022 Burnham “Hod” Greeley Award, that recognizes those who “significantly and positively” impact public understanding of the judiciary’s role in a democratic society and its importance to the rule of law.

Known as the “education justice,” Justice Lewis visited K-12 classrooms monthly throughout his tenure on the Florida Supreme Court. The visits included engaging in constitutional and court-related activities and simulations. Teaching students at all grade levels, Lewis explored the Bill of Rights with elementary students, conducted mock appellate hearings with high school students, and helped middle school students understand basic principles of the rule of law, judicial review, due process, and other standards-based concepts through landmark Supreme Court case studies.

Upon his retirement, Lewis returned Florida Southern College, his undergraduate alma mater, to serve as eminent professor of law and letters, teaching constitutional studies and Supreme Court cases through various disciplines. He brought Justice Teaching and other civics and constitutional education experiences to the FSC campus for statewide implementation.

The Justice Teaching Center for Civic learning at Florida Southern College pairs trained lawyers and judges with K-12 teachers helping to implement mock trials, constitutional hearings, public policy showcases, and a wealth of training and professional development opportunities. The center also goes beyond K-12 schools to provide adult and community education initiatives and presentations.

The award honors the late Hawaii attorney Burnham “Hod” Greeley, a dedicated leader within the ABA who was committed to promoting public trust and confidence in our justice system.

A former chief justice, Justice Lewis was appointed to the Supreme Court of Florida on December 7, 1998, by the late Gov. Lawton Chiles. In 2014, Justice Lewis received the prestigious Justice Sandra Day O’Connor national award for civic education recognizing his work with Justice Teaching as a top civic education program in the nation. In 2016, Justice Lewis was selected for induction into the inaugural class of the U.S. Army ROTC Hall of Fame. The Department of the Army stated that his achievements exemplify “Leadership Excellence.”



Originally published at https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/former-justice-fred-lewis-honored-for-his-commitment-to-civics-education/

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