R.
Fred Lewis, an American judge who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Florida from 1998 to 2019, died on May 26, 2026, at age 78. Born Richard Fred Lewis on December 14, 1947, in Beckley, West Virginia, he was appointed to the Florida high court on Dec.
7, 1998, and remained there until Jan. 8, 2019. Lewis, also known as Richard Fred Lewis, studied at Florida Southern College and the University of Miami School of Law. During his tenure as chief justice, he founded Justice Teaching, a program that placed volunteer lawyers and judges in Florida public schools to support civic and law-related education. He also convened the first commission and statewide all-branch mental health summit during his time on the court.
R. Fred Lewis, 78, American judge, justice of the Supreme Court of Florida (1998–2019).