By Jeremy Murphy
After over four decades as one of New York’s most accomplished criminal defense lawyers and judges, the Honorable David L. Lewis (Ret.) has returned to what he loves most: advocating for clients and telling their stories.
A partner at Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, P.C., Lewis focuses on federal criminal defense, appellate matters, and sentencing advocacy. This work draws on a career that includes defending organized crime figures, CIA operatives, military personnel, members of the Irish Republican Army, and even Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega.
But if Lewis were to describe himself in the simplest terms, he would use a different title. “I’m really a trial lawyer,” he says.
A Trial Lawyer at Heart
That identity has remained constant throughout his legal journey. After earning a bachelor’s degree from New York University in 1976, Lewis pursued a law degree from Fordham University School of Law. He quickly established himself as one of the nation’s premier criminal defense attorneys, building a practice focused on high-stakes litigation.
Before taking the bench, Lewis worked on some of the country’s most significant criminal cases. His practice also included complex international criminal matters involving treaty interpretation and cross-border legal issues.
Even with a remarkable resumé, Lewis says the focus of his work has always been simple. “It’s storytelling and convincing people,” he says. “Not just what happened, but why something happened.”
The Power of Narrative
That belief made Lewis one of the most sought-after trial advocacy instructors, teaching cross-examination, storytelling, and courtroom persuasion. He served at the National Criminal Defense College and taught at the renowned Clarence Darrow Death Penalty Defense College, training generations of defense attorneys.
For Lewis, effective advocacy begins with understanding narrative. “You build a narrative with things that people either know, agree with, or have reference to,” he explains. Every case contains a through line. A story that explains how events unfolded and why people made certain decisions. “How did we get here? Why is it happening? Who are these people?” he asks.
Lewis often compares courtroom storytelling to one of humanity’s oldest traditions. “The analogy I use is the cavemen around the fire telling stories.” That ability to identify and communicate a compelling narrative has defined his success in and out of the courtroom.
In addition to his criminal defense practice, Lewis served as counsel to the New York State Senate Majority Leader and represented the Senate in state and federal litigation. He appeared as amicus curiae before the Supreme Court of the United States and authored influential legal scholarship.
Returning to What He Does Best
In June 2023, Lewis retired from the bench after serving as an Acting Supreme Court Justice in the Bronx. Unlike many retired judges, he does not romanticize judicial life. Asked whether he misses being a judge, Lewis answers with characteristic candor. “No,” he says. “I hated it.” The response is delivered with humor, but it reflects a deeper philosophy.
Lewis believes judges often operate within institutional constraints that discourage creativity. Returning to private practice has allowed him to embrace the imaginative problem-solving that first drew him to defense work. “What I’m doing now is going back to what I do best,” he says. “I’m able to exercise my imagination in favor of people who really need that kind of help.”
At Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, Lewis is one of the firm’s senior strategic thinkers. He handles federal appeals, sentencing matters, and complex legal questions that often require decades of experience. “I’m one of the people you go to when you don’t know what to do next,” he says.
That role is particularly valuable in a firm known for tackling difficult, high-profile cases. Lewis frequently collaborates with colleagues on novel legal arguments, helping shape defense strategies across a wide range of matters. “We all work cooperatively,” he says. “Everybody’s kind of working on everything a little bit.”
Fighting for the People Who Need It Most
For Lewis, the greatest victories are not necessarily the most famous. His most gratifying moments have come from helping people who felt they had no chance. “Winning for clients who didn’t think they could win,” he says. “Convincing the system, through a jury, that there is a right way to do something.”
It is a perspective shaped by more than 40 years of defending individuals against the power of the government. While the cases may change, the mission remains the same. “Sometimes the joke is,” Lewis says with a smile, “they don’t need a priest. They need a lawyer.”
For David Lewis, that lawyer’s role has always been about more than legal arguments. It is about understanding people, uncovering the truth, and telling a story powerful enough to change a life.
