Lewis Sutin, a distinguished judge from Albuquerque, New Mexico, hails originally from Kansas City, Missouri. During his high school years, he captained the Central High School debate team, leading them to victory as city champions. His early involvement in Jewish youth organizations was equally notable; he was a charter member of Kansas City AZA #2, initiated on September 1, 1923. Sutin served as Aleph S’gan in 1924, in addition to serving as Mazkir (secretary) and sergeant-at-arms. He was a key member of the chapter’s debate team.

Notably, he was the starting center for the Kansas City AZA #2 basketball team, which secured the first AZAA basketball championship in March 1925, winning the Malashock Cup with teammate Sid Magazine, Philip Copland, Julius Peltzman, Harry Kaufman, and Is Pesman.

Before joining AZA, Sutin was active in the Friendship Club as treasurer, under advisor Sam Mnookin.

As a judge in Albuquerque, Lewis Sutin has earned a reputation for integrity and dedication. His most significant accomplishments include presiding over complex cases with fairness and helping shape the judiciary’s integrity in New Mexico, making him one of the most respected legal figures in the state.

From The Jewish Post (May 28, 1943): “Lewis Sutin is by far the most outstanding of the younger men. Through natural ability, common sense, a warm personality, the mind of a scholar, a deep religious nature, honesty and hard work, he has risen from the ranks in B’nai B’rith work and will this weekend, in Cincinnati, be elected president of District No. 2, which includes 100 lodges and eight states. An attorney by profession, he has been deputy prosecutor of Vigo County and Assistant City Attorney. He has been president of the local Zionist District and is vice- president of the United Temple and a speaker with a spiritual message.”

Sutin died in May 1992. The Orlando Sentinel wrote this about Sutin: “Sutin, a judge who made headlines for calling sex between a 24-year-old woman and 15-year-old boy ‘sex education,’ died Monday in Albuquerque, N.M. He was 83. He was appointed to the state Court of Appeals in 1971 and served until 1982, but he was best known for an opinion he wrote overturning the indictment of a woman charged with having sex with a teenger. He said it was ‘nothing more than sex education essential and necessary in his growth.’ The New Mexico Supreme Court reversed the decision.”