President Barack Obama nominated Lee on January 20, 2010, to a 15-year term as an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to the seat vacated by Jerry Stewart Byrd.[5] On April 20, 2010, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing on his nomination.[6] On April 28, 2010, the Committee reported his nomination favorably to the senate floor. On June 22, 2010, the full Senate confirmed his nomination by voice vote.[7] On July 26, 2024, he was named by the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission to become the chief judge of the D.C. Superior Court, effective on October 1, 2024.[8]