Fern M. Smith
Encyclopedia
Fern M. Smith is a former United States federal judge
.
Born in San Francisco, California
, Smith received an A.A. from Foothill Community College in 1970, a B.A.
from Stanford University
in 1972, and a J.D.
from Stanford Law School
in 1975. She was in private practice in San Francisco, California
from 1975 to 1986. She was a judge on the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco from 1986 to 1988. She was a Director, Federal Judicial Center from 1999 to 2003.
Smith was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
. Smith was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
on May 9, 1988, to a seat vacated by Samuel Conti
. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 26, 1988, and received her commission on July 27, 1988. He assumed senior status
on May 15, 2003. Smith served in that capacity until June 30, 2005, due to retirement.
Smith has two daughters, Susan and Julie, and three grandchildren, Caroline, Sam, and Julia.
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....
.
Born in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, Smith received an A.A. from Foothill Community College in 1970, a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1972, and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
in 1975. She was in private practice in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
from 1975 to 1986. She was a judge on the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco from 1986 to 1988. She was a Director, Federal Judicial Center from 1999 to 2003.
Smith was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California is the federal United States district court whose jurisdiction comprises following counties of California: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San...
. Smith was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
on May 9, 1988, to a seat vacated by Samuel Conti
Samuel Conti
Samuel Conti is a United States federal judge.Conti was born in Los Angeles, California. He received a B.S. from the University of Santa Clara in 1945. He received an LL.B. from Stanford Law School in 1948. He was in private practice in San Francisco, California from 1948 to 1967...
. She was confirmed 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 July 26, 1988, and received her commission on July 27, 1988. He assumed 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 May 15, 2003. Smith served in that capacity until June 30, 2005, due to retirement.
Smith has two daughters, Susan and Julie, and three grandchildren, Caroline, Sam, and Julia.