He was in the United States Army Reserve Captain, JAG Corps from 1965 to 1973.
He was a prosecuting attorney of Scott County, Mississippi from 1968 to 1971.
He was a judge of the Scott County Youth Court in Forest, Mississippi from 1979 to 1982.
[1] Lee was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on May 15, 1984, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi vacated by Judge Dan Monroe Russell Jr.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 11, 1984, and received his commission the same day.