About
Wendy Lewis is a seasoned criminal defense attorney with a career spanning over three decades of high-stakes litigation and appellate advocacy. A fifth‑generation Utahn and 1991 graduate of the University of Utah College of Law—where she was named a William H. Leary Scholar and served as editor of the Utah Law Review—Wendy began her legal journey clerking for the Honorable Robert H. MacWilliams on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. There she honed her skills on both federal civil and criminal matters and discovered her passion for defending the accused.
Returning to Utah in 1992, Wendy joined private practice, handling some of the state’s most complex criminal trials—including homicide, rape, and fraud—and securing notable acquittals such as State of Utah v. Valentino Colorow and sparing John Blanchard from the death penalty in State of Utah v. John Blanchard. In 1997 she returned to the federal bench as law clerk to the Honorable Dale A. Kimball for the District of Utah, deepening her understanding of federal procedure and judicial decision‑making.
In January 2001, Wendy embarked on a 21‑year tenure as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Utah, where she emerged as a leading advocate on federal sex‑offense cases and a national pioneer in securing probation for young offenders based on brain‑development science. She represented clients in high‑profile matters—including United States v. Brian David Mitchell—and served as her office’s liaison to the District’s Tribal Reentry Court, working directly with tribal nations on successful reintegration strategies. As a senior supervisor, she oversaw case assignments, hiring, and diversity recruitment efforts, earning respect for both her leadership and her courtroom results.
Wendy is admitted to practice before Utah’s state and federal courts as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is actively involved with the Federal Bar Association, the Utah Women Lawyers Association, and the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and regularly mentors law students. In 2022, she partnered with former colleague Kathy Nester to launch Nester Lewis PLLC. A proud mother of twin sons, Wendy combines deep roots in Utah with a national reputation for compassionate, data‑driven criminal defense.
