Patricia Lee (judge) facts for kids

Patricia Lee is an important American lawyer and judge. She has been a justice on the Nevada Supreme Court since 2022. This means she helps make big decisions about laws in Nevada.

Early Life and School

Patricia Lee was born in South Korea. Her father was an African American military member, and her mother was Korean.

She finished high school at Lompoc High School in 1993. After that, she went to the University of Southern California. In 1997, she earned a degree in psychology and communications. Later, she studied law at the George Washington University Law School, finishing in 2002.

Her Career as a Lawyer

After law school, Patricia Lee started working at a law firm called Hutchison & Steffen. A law firm is a group of lawyers who work together to help people with legal problems. She worked there for many years, from 2002 to 2022. In 2009, she became a partner at the firm. This means she became one of the main leaders of the business.

Becoming a Supreme Court Justice

In October 2022, there was an open spot on the Nevada Supreme Court. This court is the highest court in the state. It makes final decisions on legal cases. Patricia Lee was one of six people who wanted the job.

On November 21, 2022, Governor Steve Sisolak chose Patricia Lee for the position. She took the place of Justice Abbi Silver. This was a very important moment because Patricia Lee is the first African American woman and the first Asian American person to serve on the Nevada Supreme Court.

Her Family Life

Patricia Lee married her husband, Ronnie, in 2006. They have two children together.