Kathleen McCree Lewis facts for kids

Kathleen McCree Lewis (born September 27, 1947 – died October 16, 2007) was an American lawyer. She was known for her work in law and for being nominated to a high federal court.

Early Life and Education

Kathleen McCree Lewis was born in Boston, a city in Massachusetts. Her father, Wade H. McCree, was also a very important lawyer. He served as the top lawyer for the U.S. government, called the U.S. Solicitor General. He was also a federal judge.

Kathleen went to Cass Technical High School in Detroit. She was part of the school's debate team, which won a state championship. After high school, she studied political science at the University of Michigan. She earned her first degree in 1969. Later, in 1973, she earned her law degree, called a Juris Doctor (J.D.), from the University of Michigan Law School.

A Career in Law

In 1973, Kathleen McCree Lewis started working at a law firm called Dykema Gossett in Detroit. A law firm is a business where lawyers work together. She became a partner at the firm, which means she was one of the main leaders.

She was a specialist in "appellate litigation." This means she was an expert at handling cases that went to higher courts for review after a first decision.

Nominated to a High Court

Kathleen Lewis was considered for a position on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. This is a very important federal court that reviews decisions from lower courts. In 1999, President Bill Clinton officially nominated her to be a judge on this court.

Kathleen was very excited and honored by the nomination. However, the U.S. Senate, which had to approve her, was controlled by a different political party. Because of this, her nomination was not approved before President Clinton's time in office ended. This sometimes happens in politics when the President and Senate don't agree.

Life After the Nomination

Even though her nomination didn't go through, Kathleen Lewis continued her successful career at Dykema Gossett. She was recognized as one of Michigan's top 10 lawyers in 2006. This award was given by Michigan Lawyers Weekly magazine.

Kathleen believed strongly in helping her community. She told the magazine that her parents taught her the importance of serving others. She felt that responsible adults should volunteer and contribute to their communities.

Illness and Passing

Kathleen McCree Lewis bravely fought breast cancer for 12 years. In 2005, doctors also found lung cancer. She passed away from an inoperable tumor on her lung on October 16, 2007. She was 60 years old.