Changes

|term_start2=1985​

|term_start2=1985​

|term_end2=2006​

|term_end2=2006​

|succeeded2=John W. Smith​

|succeeded2=John W. Smith​

|birth_date=September 29, 1947​

|birth_date=September 29, 1947​

==Background==

==Background==

Lewis was born to Tryon Eugene "Bud" Lewis (1911–2003)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77494593/tryon-eugene-lewis|title=Tryon  

Lewis was born to Tryon Eugene "Bud" Lewis (1911–2003)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77494593/tryon-eugene-lewis|title=Tryon  

Eugene "Bud" Lewis|publisher=Findagrave|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>  and the former Erma Lea Beauchamp in Kermit in Winkler County. The senior Lewis was descended from a pioneer ranching family from Fort Stockton in Pecos County. His work in the [[petroleum]] exploration industry required several early moves for the Lewis family, who relocated in 1952 to Odessa in the oil-rich [[Permian Basin]]. Lewis has two sisters, Barbara Southern and Ann Elizabeth Smith. Bud and Erma Lewis retired in 1980 to Fort Stockton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/ector/obits/odessa/2003/061503.txt|title=Obituary of Tryon E. "Bud" Lewis|publisher=''The Odessa American''|accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref>​

Eugene "Bud" Lewis|publisher=Findagrave|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>  and the former Erma Lea Beauchamp in Kermit in Winkler County. The senior Lewis was descended from a pioneer ranching family from Fort Stockton in Pecos County. His work in the [[petroleum]] exploration industry required several early moves for the Lewis family, who relocated in 1952 to Odessa in the oil-rich Permian Basin of West Texas. Lewis has two sisters, Barbara Southern and Ann Elizabeth Smith. Bud and Erma Lewis retired in 1980 to Fort Stockton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/ector/obits/odessa/2003/061503.txt|title=Obituary of Tryon E. "Bud" Lewis|publisher=''The Odessa American''|accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref>​

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Lewis attended Odessa College, a community college, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. He obtained the [[Juris Doctor]] degree from [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Baylor University]] Law School in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas. Since 1973, he has been a partner in the law firm Atkins, Hollman, Jones, Peacock, Lewis, and Lyon. From 1985 to 2006, he was judge of the Texas 161st District Court.<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=102049|title=Rep. Tryon D. Lewis (TX)|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>​

Lewis attended Odessa College, a community college, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. He obtained the [[Juris Doctor]]ate from [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Baylor University]] Law School in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas. Since 1973, he has been a partner in the law firm Atkins, Hollman, Jones, Peacock, Lewis, and Lyon. From 1985 to 2006, he was judge of the Texas 161st District Court.<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=102049|title=Rep. Tryon D. Lewis (TX)|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>​

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Lewis and his wife, Trudy Lynn Lewis (born 1949), an educator who graduated from [[Rice University]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], have two daughters, Eleanor R. Lewis and Annie Lewis. He previously served as chairman of the Ector County Republican Party and as president of the Republican Men's Club. He has been a board member of the Permian Playhouse, the Odessa Cultural Council, and [[Meals on Wheels]].<ref name=votesmart/>The Lewises are promoters of the western art of Thomas C. Lea, III, of [[El Paso]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomlea.net/Month2012/Presenters.html|title=Tom Lea Institute|publisher=tomlea.net|accessdate=March 28, 2014}}</ref>​

Lewis and his wife, Trudy Lynn Lewis (born 1949), an educator who graduated from [[Rice University]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], have two daughters, Eleanor R. Lewis and Annie Lewis. He previously served as chairman of the Ector County Republican Party and as president of the Republican Men's Club. He has been a board member of the Permian Playhouse, the Odessa Cultural Council, and [[Meals on Wheels]].<ref name=votesmart/>The Lewises are promoters of the western art of Thomas C. Lea, III (1907-2001), of [[El Paso]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomlea.net/Month2012/Presenters.html|title=Tom Lea Institute|publisher=tomlea.net|accessdate=March 28, 2014}}</ref>​

 

==Judicial views==​

==Judicial views==

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As the 161st district judge, Lewis wrote a letter in 1989 to ''Texas Monthly'' challenging the accuracy of an article in the [[magazine]] that claims prison overcrowding in Texas stems from judges and juries sending convicted persons to the penitentiary for trivial reasons. Lewis wrote:​

As the 161st district judge, Lewis wrote a letter in 1989 to ''Texas Monthly'' challenging the accuracy of an article in the [[magazine]] that claims prison overcrowding in Texas stems from judges and juries sending convicted persons to the penitentiary for trivial reasons. Lewis wrote:​

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

No state is more lenient toward criminals than Texas. Every criminal with no prior [[felony]] conviction is eligible for [[probation]]. There are eight different kinds of probation. . . . Forty-five percent of all prisoners are repeat offenders. Thus there are very few nonviolent first offenders in prison, and nearly all of those have already failed the court's attempt at alternative punishment. The convicts in prison are there because they deserve to be. [While prison cells are expensive], not providing those cells is far more expensive. . . . A typical multi-offender inmate will commit 187 crimes per year, for a total crime cost to society of $430,000. With this comparison, the $25,800 cost of imprisoning criminals seems reasonable."<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/?id=TC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=Judge+Tryon+D.+Lewis#v=onepage&q=Judge%20Tryon%20D.%20Lewis&f=false|title=Judge Tryon D. Lewis, 161st State District Court, Letter to the Editor|publisher=Google Books: ''Texas Monthly''|date=April 1989)|page=14|accessdate=July 15, 2010}</ref>​</blockquote>

No state is more lenient toward criminals than Texas. Every criminal with no prior [[felony]] conviction is eligible for [[probation]]. There are eight different kinds of probation. . . . Forty-five percent of all prisoners are repeat offenders. Thus there are very few nonviolent first offenders in prison, and nearly all of those have already failed the court's attempt at alternative punishment. The convicts in prison are there because they deserve to be. [While prison cells are expensive], not providing those cells is far more expensive. . . . A typical multi-offender inmate will commit 187 crimes per year, for a total crime cost to society of $430,000. With this comparison, the $25,800 cost of imprisoning criminals seems reasonable."<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/?id=TC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=Judge+Tryon+D.+Lewis#v=onepage&q=Judge%20Tryon%20D.%20Lewis&f=false|title=Judge Tryon D. Lewis, 161st State District Court, Letter to the Editor|publisher=Google Books: ''Texas Monthly''|date=April 1989)|page=14|accessdate=July 15, 2010}</ref>​</blockquote>

 

==Legislative service==​

==Legislative service==

One of three candidates who challenged the ailing incumbent George E. "Buddy" West of Odessa in the 2008 Republican [[primary]], Lewis led the field with 5,273 votes (44 percent) to West's 4,602 (38.4) percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 4, 2008.</ref> In the lower-turnout runoff election, Lewis prevailed by a large margin, 5,181 (76 percent) to West's 1,637 (24 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 8, 2008.</ref> Lewis was supported by then [[Speaker]] [[Tom Craddick]] of nearby [[Midland]], who at the time was at odds with West, his Republican colleague for the past fifteen years. Four anti-Craddick Republican legislators came to Odessa to campaign in the runoff for West.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasweekly.com/node/2758|title=Very Busy Signals|publisher=''Texas Weekly''|accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web​

One of three candidates who challenged the ailing incumbent George E. "Buddy" West of Odessa in the 2008 Republican [[primary]], Lewis led the field with 5,273 votes (44 percent) to West's 4,602 (38.4) percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 4, 2008.</ref> In the lower-turnout runoff election, Lewis prevailed by a large margin, 5,181 (76 percent) to West's 1,637 (24 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 8, 2008.</ref> Lewis was supported by then [[Speaker]] [[Tom Craddick]] of nearby [[Midland]], who at the time was at odds with West, his Republican colleague for the past fifteen years. Four anti-Craddick Republican legislators came to Odessa to campaign in the runoff for West.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasweekly.com/node/2758|title=Very Busy Signals|publisher=''Texas Weekly''|accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web​

|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5862150.html#Intro​

|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5862150.html#Intro​