David Lewis is not your typical lawyer. With over two decades of experience as a seasoned appellate attorney in Massachusetts, he has transitioned from the complexities of private practice to the front lines of criminal justice reform. His career trajectory took a significant turn in 2019 when he was appointed to establish and lead the Conviction Integrity Unit at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Boston. This pivotal role has allowed David Lewis to directly address wrongful convictions, offering a beacon of hope for individuals unjustly incarcerated.
Prior to his impactful work in public service, David Lewis spent years honing his expertise as an appellate lawyer. His deep understanding of the legal system, particularly within the appellate courts, equipped him with a unique perspective on the intricacies of justice and where it can falter. Having litigated over 175 appeals across state and federal courts, including numerous first-degree murder cases, David Lewis possesses a profound grasp of the stakes involved in the legal process and the potential for error.
The establishment of the Integrity Review Bureau (IRB) under David Lewis’s leadership marks a significant stride towards rectifying past injustices. Under his guidance, the IRB has achieved remarkable success, providing relief to 18 individuals who collectively served 564 years of imprisonment for crimes they did not commit. This impactful work underscores David Lewis’s commitment to ensuring fairness and accuracy within the legal system.
Beyond his demanding role at the District Attorney’s Office, David Lewis is also shaping the next generation of legal professionals as an instructor at Tufts University’s ExCollege. His course offers students an invaluable opportunity to delve into the complexities of wrongful convictions. To make the realities of injustice tangible, David Lewis invites guest speakers like Robert Foxworth, an exoneree, to share their personal stories. This approach aims to instill in students a visceral understanding of the human cost of wrongful convictions, moving beyond theoretical knowledge to genuine empathy and a commitment to justice.
When assessing the Massachusetts legal and prison system, David Lewis offers a balanced perspective. He acknowledges areas of strength, such as the state’s relatively effective system for appointing lawyers to indigent defendants. However, he also points out persistent challenges, including inadequate compensation for assigned counsel, which can disproportionately affect access to justice, particularly in an expensive region like Massachusetts.
Ultimately, David Lewis hopes his students will emerge from his course with a sharpened sense of critical inquiry and a steadfast commitment to justice. He emphasizes the importance of questioning narratives, holding truth to account, and championing the principle of “justice for all,” without exception. David Lewis’s dedication as a lawyer and educator positions him as a vital figure in the ongoing pursuit of a more equitable and just legal system.
Learn more about the important work of conviction integrity and stories like Robert Foxworth’s exoneration by exploring resources such as Boston Globe: “They Were Willing to Let Me Die in There”.
