Josh D Lee

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Josh D. Lee (Born November 21, 1979 in Vinita, Oklahoma) is shareholder at Ward 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.

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Early years

He was born and raised in Vinita, Oklahoma. He is the only child of Jack and Dolores Lee. He worked as a 911 dispatcher and police officer for the Vinita Police Department after high school. He earned his Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Oklahoma. He went on to graduate from Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology - Software and Multimedia Design. He received his law degree with honors in 2007 from 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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Early legal career

He 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. The firm is now named Ward Lee & Coats, PLC.

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Major cases

Lee is known for his published appellate advocacy in open government cases, including:

• Ward & Lee, PLC v City of Claremore, 2014 OK CIV APP 1 - established public's right to access police and sheriff dash cam recordings under the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

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. Scott and Carpenter became the 31st and 32nd individuals to be exonerated in Oklahoma since 1989. 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. 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. He also successfully represented both Scott and Carpenter when District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler appealed the exonerations.
• 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
• 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.

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Professional associations

Freedom of Information Oklahoma, Inc - Board of Director (01/2014-Present)

Chemistry and the Law Division of the American Chemical Society - Executive Committee Member/Forensic Science Co-Chairman

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Recognition

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.

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 - 2013
• National College for DUI Defense Dean's Award - 2013
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Public Proclamation - 2012

He is a noted forensic science commentator of articles, including:

• Chemistry World articles
• Colorado Springs Independent article
• Chemical & Engineering News IP article
• C&EN Book Review

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Speaking engagements

He is a sought-out national speaker who speaks at state bar conferences, national legal meetings, and scientific meetings. The organizations that he has spoken to include:

• The American Chemical Society
• The American Academy of Forensic Sciences
• The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The DUI Defense Lawyers Association
• The National College for DUI Defense
• The National Judges Association
• The Oklahoma Municipal Judges Association
• The Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• The Oklahoma Bar Association
• The Tulsa County Bar Association
• The South Carolina Bar Association
• The Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• The San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• The Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The Scientific Law Forums
• The California Public Defenders Association
• The New York State Bar Association
• The Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• The North Carolina Advocates for Justice
• The Ohio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• The Utah Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• The University of Tulsa College of Law
• Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
• Association quebecoise des avocate et avocates de la defense (AQAAD) (Quebec Canada)

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Publications

He has published chapters in the following books:

• Understanding DUI Scientific Evidence 2011 Edition
• The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases

He has published articles with the following organizations

• The South Carolina Bar Association
• Tennessee Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

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References

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External links

• Ward, Lee & Coats PLC
• Grand Lake DUI

Source of the article : Wikipedia