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Josh D. Lee

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Josh D. Lee (born November 21, 1979, in Vinita, Oklahoma) is an American lawyer. As a shareholder at Lee|Coats, PLC ,in Vinita, Oklahoma, he has a national practice. He focuses his practice on two specific areas of criminal defense: 1) DUI/DWI and other alcohol-related charges, and 2) drug charges. He is most known as an advocate of open government and has successfully sued governments in the State of Oklahoma to enforce Oklahoma's Open Records law.

Josh D. Lee
J.D., M.S., NREMT
Oklahoma Attorney Josh D. Lee
Josh D. Lee
Born (1979-11-21) November 21, 1979 (age 44)
Vinita, Oklahoma, U.S.
Alma materJuris Doctor with honors University of Tulsa College of Law, Master of Science in Pharmacy University of Florida, Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology Rogers State University, Associates of Arts in Criminal Justice Northeastern Oklahoma A&M,
OccupationCriminal defense lawyer
Known forCriminal Defense Trial Attorney
WebsiteLee|Coats Law, PLC

Early years

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He was born and raised in Vinita, Oklahoma. He is the only child of Jack and Dolores Lee. After high school, he worked as a 911 dispatcher and police officer for the Vinita Police Department . He earned his Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma. He went on to graduate from Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology specializing in Software and Multimedia Design. He received his J.D. degree with honors in 2007 from the University of Tulsa College of Law. In 2016, he earned a Master of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Florida.

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Lee started his legal career as a licensed legal intern for the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office. He was assigned to work the Major Crimes Team when he left to go into private practice. In 2007, he joined Clinton M. Ward and his practice in Vinita, Oklahoma, and formed Ward & Lee, PLC. A couple years later Cassandra Coats joined the firm and it was renamed Ward Lee & Coats, PLC. In 2019, Josh Lee and Cassandra Coats went out on their own, building a new building in downtown Vinita, and opened the firm Lee|Coats Law, PLC.

Major cases

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Lee is known for his published appellate advocacy in open government cases,[citation needed] including Ward & Lee, PLC v City of Claremore, 2014 OK CIV APP 1, which established public's right to access police and sheriff dash cam recordings under the Oklahoma Open Records Act.[1][2]

Lee brought a lawsuit against Washington and Nowata County District Judge Curtis DeLapp, alleging widespread abuses of power.[3] Ultimately the Oklahoma Supreme Court filed a removal petition against Judge DeLapp accusing him of "gross neglect" and "oppression in office."[4] Eventually the disgraced Judge resigned from the bench and withdrew his bid for reelection.[5] In July 2020, Reuters Investigates began publishing a series of long format stories on judicial misconduct in the United States called Teflon Robe. Part 2 “Emboldened By Impunity” focused on the misconduct of Judge Delapp and JoLee's role in his removal.[6]

In the DUI and criminal law context, he has been the attorney of record for the following cases:

  • Exonerations of Malcolm Scott and De'Marchoe Carpenter. On May 19, 2016, a Tulsa County District Judge found Scott and Carpenter "actually innocent" of a 1994 drive-by shooting that landed them a prison sentence of Life + 170 years.[7][8] Scott and Carpenter became the 31st and 32nd individuals to be exonerated in Oklahoma since 1989.[9] The 21 years and 8 months that they spent in prison as wrongfully convicted men was the longest served of any of the 30 previous exonerees in Oklahoma.[10] Lee, along with Oklahoma Innocence Project Legal Director Christina Green, represented Scott in this matter. His closing argument from the January 29, 2016 hearing drew high praise from journalists and local court watchers.[11] He also successfully represented both Scott and Carpenter when District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler appealed the exonerations.[12]
  • Andrews v. State, 2014 OK CIV APP 19. In this case, the appellate courts determined that paramedics are not approved to withdraw blood for Oklahoma Implied Consent Cases[13]
  • State v. Mayes. In this case, the charges were thrown out at preliminary hearing against a 74-year-old woman who lived in a home where marijuana and about $277,000 in cash were seized.[14][15]

Lee is a forensic science commentator of articles, including articles in Chemistry World,[16][17] Colorado Springs Independent,[18] and Chemical & Engineering News,[19][20] Other publications include chapters in the books Understanding DUI Scientific Evidence (2011 Edition),[21] and The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases,[22] along with articles for The South Carolina Bar Association,[23] Tennessee Criminal Defense Lawyers Association,[24] and Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association[25]

Professional associations

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  • Freedom of Information Oklahoma, Inc - Board of Director (01/2014–Present) [26]
  • Chemistry and the Law Division of the American Chemical Society - Executive Committee Member/Forensic Science Co-chairman[27]

Recognition

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In 2018, Lee was recognized by the Oklahoma Bar Association by receiving the Fern Holland Courageous Lawyer Award.[28] He was featured in Oklahoma Magazine's 40 Under 40 for 2018 recognizing the "best the state has to offer in virtually all fields of business." In 2014, Freedom of Information Oklahoma, Inc. named the law firm of Ward, Lee, & Coats, PLC, Josh Lee, and Steve Fabian, as honorable mention for the groups Ben Blackstock Award. The award is to recognize private citizens and organizations who shows a commitment to freedom of information and government transparency.[29]

He has been recognized by state and national defense related organizations for his contributions to the citizens and the defense bar:

  • Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association President's Award - 2018
  • Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association President's Award - 2013
  • National College for DUI Defense Dean's Award - 2013[30]
  • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Public Proclamation - 2012

References

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  1. ^ "WARD & LEE, P.L.C. V. CITY OF CLAREMORE".
  2. ^ "Oklahoma court rules that Claremore police dash-cam video is public record". June 2013.
  3. ^ "Abuse of power allegations levied at judge who ordered woman jailed without bond for talking during court". The Frontier. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  4. ^ "Washington County judge guilty of 'gross neglect,' 'oppression in office,' state Supreme Court Justice writes". The Frontier. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  5. ^ "Okla. judge who jailed people for eating sunflower seeds and talking in court has resigned". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  6. ^ "With 'judges judging judges,' rogues on the bench have little to fear". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  7. ^ "Malcolm Scott and De'Marchoe Carpenter freed". The Frontier. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  8. ^ "Two Tulsa men declared innocent in 1994 fatal shooting after serving 20 years in prison". Tulsa World. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  9. ^ "Judge declares two Tulsa men INNOCENT after they served more than 21 years in Oklahoma prisons | Oklahoma Journalists for Justice". okj2.org. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  10. ^ "Judge declares two Tulsa men INNOCENT after they served more than 21 years in Oklahoma prisons | Oklahoma Journalists for Justice". okj2.org. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  11. ^ "A killer's word: Should his death row confession free two men?". The Frontier. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  12. ^ "Appeals court closes case of Tulsa men declared innocent of 1994 murder". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  13. ^ "ANDREWS v. STATE ex rel. DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY".
  14. ^ "Drug charge against 74-year-old Vinita woman dismissed". 9 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Video Granny Drug Kingpin Busted". ABC News.
  16. ^ "Massachusetts crime lab scandal explodes".
  17. ^ "Crime lab chemist accused of fabricating drug test results | Chemistry World". rsc.org. Retrieved 2016-06-02.
  18. ^ Hardin, Chet (November 7, 2012). "Blood and circus: Why many DUI lawyers don't trust the state's drug lab". Colorado Springs Independent. Archived from the original on 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  19. ^ "Forensic Science and the Innocence Project | September 10, 2012 Issue - Vol. 90 Issue 37 | Chemical & Engineering News". Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  20. ^ "Why Criminal Law Ignores Science | February 18, 2013 Issue - Vol. 91 Issue 7 | Chemical & Engineering News". Archived from the original on 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  21. ^ Vosk, Ted; Authors, Multiple (August 2011). Understanding DUI Scientific Evidence, 2011 ed: Leading Lawyers and Scientists on Recent Developments in Forensic Science, Understanding Chemical and ... Validity of Test Results (Inside the Minds): Multiple Authors: 9780314278890: Amazon.com: Books. Aspatore Books. ISBN 978-0314278890.
  22. ^ Aspatore (August 2012). The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases, 2012 ed: Leading Lawyers on Leveraging Science and Process to Develop Winning Defense Strategies (Inside the Minds): Multiple Authors: 9780314285843: Amazon.com: Books. Aspatore Books. ISBN 978-0314285843.
  23. ^ "The Lawyer's Guide To Gas Chromatography". South Carolina Bar. Archived from the original on 2014-03-10.
  24. ^ "For The Defense" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-28. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  25. ^ "Portable Breath Testers: A Potentially Dangerous Non-Specific and Non-Selective Measure at Roadside | Voice For The Defense Online". voiceforthedefenseonline.com. 2 October 2012.
  26. ^ Freedom of Information Oklahoma, Inc.,
  27. ^ Chemistry and the Law Division,
  28. ^ "Oklahoma Bar Association 2018 Award Winners" (PDF). Oklahoma Bar Association. October 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  29. ^ Freedom of Information Oklahoma, Inc. Archived 2014-11-14 at the Wayback Machine,
  30. ^ "Attorney Josh Lee Honored in 2013". Ward Lee & Coats | Attorneys at Law Vinita Oklahoma. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
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