Lavenski Smith
Encyclopedia
Lavenski R. Smith is a federal judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
. He was nominated to that court by President George W. Bush
on September 4, 2001 and confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 15, 2002 by voice vote
.
,was a native of Hope and graduated from Hope High School. He received both his B.A.
and his J.D.
from the University of Arkansas
.
Before joining the federal bench, Smith worked in both private practice and public service. Notably, he was a Commissioner on the Arkansas Public Service Commission
from 1997-1999 before Governor Mike Huckabee
appointed him Associate Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court
to serve out the remainder of retired Justice David Newbern's term from 1999-2000. He ran for an open seat on the Arkansas Court of Appeals in 2000, but was defeated in the general election. He was then re-appointed to the Arkansas Public Service Commission in 2001, where he was serving a six-year term until his appointment to the Eighth Circuit. Smith has also been an assistant professor at John Brown University
as well as Executive Director of the Rutherford Institute
.
Smith's appointment to the Eighth Circuit was opposed by Alliance for Justice
, NARAL, the National Abortion Federation
, and Planned Parenthood
. The National Council of Jewish Women
also opposed the nomination, stating: "The information that has come to light on Commissioner Smith's record of hostility toward reproductive freedom, as well as his notable lack of experience dealing with cases involving federal constitutional issues, leads us to conclude that his nomination should not be confirmed." Despite liberal opposition, the Senate confirmed the appointment by voice vote without Democratic opposition.
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
. He was nominated to that court 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 September 4, 2001 and 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 15, 2002 by voice vote
Voice vote
A voice vote is a voting method used by deliberative assemblies in which a vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding verbally....
.
Education and career
Smith, a life-long ArkansanArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
,was a native of Hope and graduated from Hope High School. He received both his 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...
and his 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 the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
.
Before joining the federal bench, Smith worked in both private practice and public service. Notably, he was a Commissioner on the Arkansas Public Service Commission
Arkansas Public Service Commission
The Arkansas Public Service Commission regulates the service and rates of those utilities subject to its jurisdiction in Arkansas. When it was originally created by the General Assembly in 1899, this was only the Railroads. Today the commission regulates telephone service, natural gas lines, water...
from 1997-1999 before Governor Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
appointed him Associate Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court
Arkansas Supreme Court
The Arkansas Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1925, it has consisted of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, and at times Special Justices are called upon in the absence of a regular justice...
to serve out the remainder of retired Justice David Newbern's term from 1999-2000. He ran for an open seat on the Arkansas Court of Appeals in 2000, but was defeated in the general election. He was then re-appointed to the Arkansas Public Service Commission in 2001, where he was serving a six-year term until his appointment to the Eighth Circuit. Smith has also been an assistant professor at John Brown University
John Brown University
The main campus in Northwest Arkansas has been the site of the university since it was founded in 1919. JBU has 2,183 students as of the 2011-2012 school year, 1,279 of which are traditional undergraduates. Of these, 878 live on campus. The Graduate School has 468 students...
as well as Executive Director of the Rutherford Institute
Rutherford Institute
The Rutherford Institute is a non-profit group based in Charlottesville, Virginia dedicated to the defense of civil liberties, human rights, and religious liberty. It was founded in 1982 by John W. Whitehead...
.
Smith's appointment to the Eighth Circuit was opposed by Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice is a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations in the USA....
, NARAL, the National Abortion Federation
National Abortion Federation
The National Abortion Federation is an organization of abortion providers. Though originally a U.S. group, NAF has expanded to include practitioners in Canada and Australia as well as many European countries and Mexico...
, and Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
. The National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Jewish Women
The National Council of Jewish Women defines itself as a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action...
also opposed the nomination, stating: "The information that has come to light on Commissioner Smith's record of hostility toward reproductive freedom, as well as his notable lack of experience dealing with cases involving federal constitutional issues, leads us to conclude that his nomination should not be confirmed." Despite liberal opposition, the Senate confirmed the appointment by voice vote without Democratic opposition.