Josh D Lee


Josh D. Lee is 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.

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 J.D. 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.

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. 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

Lee is known for his published appellate advocacy in open government cases, including:
Lee brought a lawsuit against Washington and Nowata County District Judge Curtis DeLapp, alleging widespread abuses of power. Ultimately the Oklahoma Supreme Court filed a removal petition against Judge DeLapp accusing him of "gross neglect" and "oppression in office." Eventually the disgraced Judge resigned from the bench and withdrew his bid for reelection.
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 Josh’s role in his removal.
In the DUI and criminal law context, he has been the attorney of record for the following cases:
Freedom of Information Oklahoma, Inc - Board of Director
Chemistry and the Law Division of the American Chemical Society - Executive Committee Member/Forensic Science Co-Chairman

Recognition

In 2018, Josh was recognized by the Oklahoma Bar Association by receiving the Fern Holland Courageous Lawyer Award. 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.
He has been recognized by state and national defense related organizations for his contributions to the citizens and the defense bar:
He is a noted forensic science commentator of articles, including:
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:
He has published chapters in the following books:
He has published articles with the following organizations