Kansas City Criminal Defense Attorney Patrick Lewis Practices at the Law Firm of Morgan Pilate

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Patrick Lewis

kansas city criminal law
Patrick M. Lewis is a skilled advocate who is known for thinking outside the box and finding the most effective and efficient defense for his clients. An acknowledged leader in criminal defense in Kansas, Patrick has testified as an expert in the field of criminal defense, regularly fields questions from attorneys across the state and teaches trial technique to both seasoned attorneys and law students. Like the other attorneys at Morgan Pilate LLC, Patrick considers honest, open and full communication between client and attorney as the cornerstone to successful criminal defense.

Patrick’s commitment to criminal defense stretches beyond the boundaries of the clients he represents to other criminal defense lawyers, prospective lawyers and the profession as a whole. Patrick serves as the Executive Director of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, coordinating the efforts of the largest group of criminal defense lawyers in the state of Kansas. In addition, Patrick is an adjunct professor with Washburn University School of Law in Topeka where he has taught courses in all aspects of trial advocacy, from jury selection to cross examination to closing argument. Patrick views teaching law students as not only a means to better prospective members of the profession with the real skills they will need to be successful attorneys but a means to continually sharpen his own skills and knowledge. He regularly shares his expertise with other lawyers in the areas of legal ethics, statutory interpretation, sentencing guidelines, cross examination, and trial skills. Patrick has presented at many continuing legal education seminars for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, the State Board of Indigent Defense Services, the Johnson County Bar Association, and the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Additionally, Patrick is an active member of the Johnson County Bar Association’s Criminal Bench Bar Committee and its Municipal Bench Bar Committee. These groups attempt to keep communication flowing between judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys. Patrick recognizes that these relationships are important in ensuring that people caught up in the system receive fair treatment. Patrick also serves on the Criminal Law Advisory Committee to the Kansas Judicial Council. The Judicial Council is responsible for an ongoing study of the judicial branch of government and recommends options for improvement in the administration of justice to the Kansas Supreme Court and the Legislature.

This dedication to criminal defense began early in Patrick’s career when he was a law student at the University of Kansas School of Law. Work at the Paul Wilson Defender Project brought him face to face with the huge difficulties confronting anyone accused of a crime. He quickly realized that to succeed in his role as a defense attorney and to protect his clients against the overwhelming resources of the government would require a deep understanding of criminal law and procedure. Additionally a successful advocate would have to be able to dominate the courtroom to maximize the chances of acquittal. Patrick has spent twenty years polishing his knowledge and skills to give his clients the best possible chance of success.

In law school at the University of Kansas, Patrick took all available trial courses. He complemented this course work with trial competitions as well as evidence and procedure classes designed to make him the most effective advocate in the courtroom. After graduating from KU with his Juris Doctorate, Patrick decided to continue his preparation for trial work. He traveled to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, to earn an advanced legal degree. Patrick received his LLM in Litigation after intensive training in courtroom presentation, strategy and skills.

Patrick brought this rare degree back home to Kansas and began his practice with the Public Defender’s office in Wichita. There he immediately handled his own caseload of felony charges. This experience of serious charges and frequent trials gave strength and depth to his formal education.

Patrick returned to the Kansas City area and joined the Johnson County Public Defender’s Office in 1993. He continued to represent people accused of serious crimes and assumed leadership duties. He trained younger attorneys and helped them learn to effectively and efficiently defend their clients. Patrick eventually rose to the head of the office, with a staff of 15 attorneys, plus paralegals, investigators and office staff. While this was a wonderful opportunity, the duties of chief public defender largely kept him out of the courtroom.

Patrick left state service to allow him to spend all his time representing people accused of crimes. In private practice he is able to devote all his efforts to protecting his clients from the allegations and claims of the government. Patrick has represented thousands of people on all manner of charges, from simple speeding tickets to first degree murder. Patrick practices mostly in municipal courts and state district courts in Kansas.

Bar Admissions:

Kansas Supreme Court

Missouri Supreme Court

Federal Court, District of Kansas

Federal Court, Western District of Missouri

Education: BS Journalism, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 1985

BA Political Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 1985

JD, University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, Kansas 1988

LLM Litigation, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 1989

Professional Organizations:

Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Former Governor