Judge Lee received his undergraduate degree from Jacksonville University where he placed on the President’s Honor Roll. He was also awarded a Master of Arts degree in History Humanities from California State University at Dominguez Hills. He received his law degree with honors from the University of Florida where he served as a Senior Editor on the Law Review and was awarded a teaching fellowship. After graduating in 1985, Judge Lee began a practice primarily involving commercial litigation. While in practice, he received the Individual Attorney Support Award from Legal Aid of Broward County for pro bono work involving mental health issues. He is an AV rated attorney, and was Board certified in Real Estate law. His wide community involvement has included the Broward Education Foundation; Broward United Against Discrimination; the Broward Human Rights Initiative; the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association; and the Stonewall National Museum and Archives.

In 1997, Governor Lawton Chiles appointed Lee to the County Court for Broward County. Judge Lee has served in the Criminal and Civil Divisions, including several years as an Acting Circuit Judge. He was chair of the Broward County Canvassing Board and presided over the historic 2000 Presidential Recount in Broward County. In 2011, Judge Lee was honored with the Stephen R. Booher Memorial Award by the Broward County Bar Association. Most recently, he was bestowed the Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence, as well as the President’s Award for Outstanding Service, both in 2016.

Judge Lee has more than a dozen published articles appearing in various legal publications, including the Florida Law Review, Florida Bar Journal, Barry Law Review, Nova Law Review, St. Thomas Law Review, Florida Supreme Court Historical Review, Broward Barrister, and Western State University Law Review. He has presided over almost 350 jury trials and has more than 500 published legal decisions. Judge Lee has served as an Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies at Florida International University; Florida Metropolitan University; and Barry University.

Judge Lee currently serves as an Acting Circuit Judge and the Chair of the Civil Division of the Broward County Court. He serves by appointment of the Chief Justice on the Judicial Management Council and the Florida Access to Civil Justice Commission, as well as being Chair of Education of the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida and a member of the Florida Court Education Council. He continues to speak about the court system to numerous organizations and schools throughout the country.