Lewis S. Wiener, a disability justice champion, died on April 29, 2024.  In June 2023 Lew was honored with the Wiley A. Branton Award – the highest achievement award bestowed by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (“WLC”).  As a partner at Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, Lew litigated several civil rights pro bono matters with WLC, particularly on behalf of persons with disabilities.  In one class action, Lew represented blind and visually impaired federal government contractors who sued the federal government alleging that the inaccessibility of SAM.gov, the website utilized by federal contractors, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The resulting consent decree required the government to make changes to ensure the website was accessible to individuals using screen readers and other assistive devices that allow blind/visually impaired individuals to access and read web pages.

In a landmark disability rights case, Lew served as lead counsel representing seven deaf and hearing-impaired individuals who were denied access to sign language interpreter services at Laurel Regional Hospital in Maryland.  The Justice Department adopted the resulting consent decree, which was referred to as the gold standard for defining “effective communication” in a hospital setting.  Reflecting on this case, Lew remarked, “Working with pro bono clients who are deaf reinforced the best advice I ever received: learn to speak your client’s language; don’t expect them to speak yours.”

Lew served on the WLC Board of Directors for 19 years from 2004-2023, and as Board Co-Chair from 2013-2015.  He helped to steer WLC into a new chapter of advancing racial justice and achieving human rights impact in Washington, DC and across the country.  After his Board service ended in 2023, Lew continued to champion the work of WLC – even as recently as the week before his passing, when he offered guidance to Joanne Lin, WLC Executive Director, about WLC’s new strategic planning process.

“Lew has had a profound impact on disability justice and civil rights, “said Joanne Lin.  “Lew fought tirelessly to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to employment and to medical care.  We are deeply grateful for his faithful service on the WLC board for nearly 20 years.  He co-led the organization during a pivotal time that allowed WLC to achieve new heights of excellence and racial justice impact.  In addition, Lew was a giant of a man in all ways – statuesque with an indomitable spirit, a resilient mind, and a huge heart.  He was absolutely beloved by the WLC community.  All of us at WLC – staff and board – share our deepest condolences with Alisa and Zach and the large extended Wiener family – many of whom joined us to celebrate Lew at the 2023 Branton pro bono awards luncheon.  Together, we renew our commitment to fulfilling the vision that Lew fought for till his very last day – equality and justice for all.”

“Lew was an extraordinary human being,” said Ted Howard (Wiley pro bono partner and former WLC Board Co-Chair with Lew).  “A gentle giant with an enormous heart and a boundless capacity for empathy, Lew was simply one of the finest people I have ever encountered, and the world is a lesser place without him.  I used to joke that Lew was the reincarnation of a Black southern minister because of the inspirational, soul-stirring remarks with which he would conclude the Branton Luncheon during his years as WLC board chair.  Invariably, he would end by reminding the gathering that ‘while no one can do everything, everyone can do something.’ Lew was a shining example of modeling the conduct he urged from others.  I loved him like a brother and will miss him terribly.”

“Words cannot express how hard it is to lose this great man,” said Jenny Levy (Kirkland & Ellis litigation partner and former WLC Board Co-Chair with Lew).  “I had the privilege of serving as co-chair of the WLC Board of Directors with Lew for a few years, and I got to see up close how he used his time on this earth to make the world a better place, day in and day out.  His tireless commitment to working for equality and justice along his with his relentless kindness to everyone he encountered exemplify ‘a life well-lived.’  In the midst of the deep sadness, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of knowing this beautiful gentle soul.”

“Lew carried more weight than any man I have known, and he did so with steadiness, strength and grace,” said Steve Hollman (SheppardMullin partner, and former WLC board co-chair with Lew).  “Though he was large in stature, he was a veritable giant in character.  When I confided to him that I was having trouble dealing with his tragic loss of his two daughters in a house fire, he said simply, ‘we will be strong for each other.’  As his wife Alisa commented recently and eloquently, he taught us that you can’t ask why, you must instead ask how.  When it came to making real the promise of equal justice, Lew was a lion, a master of passion and compelling argument and a champion for those less fortunate.  As all his WLC colleagues knew, working with him was a distinct pleasure.  As his daughter Lindsay once commented, you never worried when you took on a hard task with Lew:  ‘You always knew that Big Lew had your back.’  He was great at taking responsibility but too humble to try to grab credit.  Mostly, he made his friends know how lucky we were to be in his orbit.  He will be deeply missed.”

In his 2023 Branton award acceptance speech, Lew summed it up best, “Progress is not a solitary endeavor, but the result of countless individuals working together united by a common purpose…  I accept th[e Branton] award not in recognition of my individual achievements, but as a call to action, a reminder of the work that lies ahead.  Let us continue to…  strive for a future where justice prevails and where principles of equality and human rights are upheld for generations to come.”

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In lieu of flowers, Alisa and Zach Wiener have asked that contributions be made to the Washington Hebrew Congregation or to WLC.  Gifts in Lew’s memory can be given here:  washlaw.org/giving-in-memory-lew-wiener/

WLC statement – announcing Lew Wiener as 2023 Branton honoree:  washlaw.org/2023-branton-awardee/

Video of Nick Christakos’s introduction of Lew Wiener as 2023 Branton honoree:  youtube.com/watch?v=YnnemC201u0&t=1890s (starting at 31:30)

Video of Lew Wiener’s Branton 2023 acceptance speech:  youtube.com/watch?v=pl0jfwhd14s