William E. Smith (judge)
Encyclopedia
William Edward Smith is a judge
on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
and a former federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
from the Georgetown University
in 1982 and his Juris Doctorate cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center
in 1987.
He was in private practice in Providence, Rhode Island
from 1987 until 2000. From 1993 until 1998, he was also a part-time judge
in the town of West Warwick, Rhode Island
. Judge Smith was the staff director of the Rhode Island office of U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee
from 2000 until 2001. From 2001 to 2002, he returned to private practice in Providence.
From 2001 to 2002, Judge Smith was an adjunct professor at Providence College
. He currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University School of Law
.
Judge Smith was nominated by President George W. Bush
on July 18, 2002, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
vacated by Ronald R. Lagueux. He was confirmed
by the United States Senate
on November 14, 2002, and received his commission on the next day.
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
vacated by Judge Bruce Marshall Selya
, who took senior status
on December 31, 2006. Rhode Island's two Democratic senators, Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse
, both of whom had been cut out of Smith's selection by the White House, issued a lukewarm joint response to the nomination: "Before giving someone a lifetime appointment to the federal bench we need to carefully review their record. We will be sure to give Judge Smith’s nomination thorough and independent review." Previously, Whitehouse had suggested in September 2007 that the Senate should not consider any Bush appointment for the First Circuit that late in the president’s term.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution...
and a former federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Background
Judge Smith received his bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1982 and his Juris Doctorate cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 1987.
He was in private practice in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
from 1987 until 2000. From 1993 until 1998, he was also a part-time judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in the town of West Warwick, Rhode Island
West Warwick, Rhode Island
West Warwick is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 29,191 at the 2010 census.West Warwick was incorporated in 1913, making it the youngest town in the state. Prior to 1913, the town, situated on the western bank of the Pawtuxet River, was the population and...
. Judge Smith was the staff director of the Rhode Island office of U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Chafee
Lincoln Davenport Chafee is an American politician who has been the 74th Governor of Rhode Island since January 2011. Prior to his election as governor, Chafee served in the United States Senate as a Republican from 1999 until losing his Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon...
from 2000 until 2001. From 2001 to 2002, he returned to private practice in Providence.
From 2001 to 2002, Judge Smith was an adjunct professor at Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
. He currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University School of Law
Roger Williams University School of Law
Roger Williams University School of Law is the only law school in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is located approximately 18 miles south east of Providence, Rhode Island, in the town of Bristol. It was the first program established by Roger Williams University in 1993...
.
Judge Smith was nominated by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on July 18, 2002, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution...
vacated by Ronald R. Lagueux. He was confirmed
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on November 14, 2002, and received his commission on the next day.
First Circuit nomination under Bush
Smith was nominated on December 6, 2007 by President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Maine* District of Massachusetts...
vacated by Judge Bruce Marshall Selya
Bruce Marshall Selya
Bruce Marshall Selya is a senior federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and chief judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review who is known for his conservative opinions and distinctive writing style.-Career:Judge Selya received an...
, who took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on December 31, 2006. Rhode Island's two Democratic senators, Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse
Sheldon Whitehouse
Sheldon Whitehouse is the junior U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, both of whom had been cut out of Smith's selection by the White House, issued a lukewarm joint response to the nomination: "Before giving someone a lifetime appointment to the federal bench we need to carefully review their record. We will be sure to give Judge Smith’s nomination thorough and independent review." Previously, Whitehouse had suggested in September 2007 that the Senate should not consider any Bush appointment for the First Circuit that late in the president’s term.
Sources
- Smith, William E., Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, Federal Judicial CenterFederal Judicial CenterThe Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....