Mary L. Smith
Encyclopedia
Mary L. Smith is an American lawyer and current official in the United States Department of Justice Civil Division
. From 2009 until August 2010, she had been a presidential nominee to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice
. However, she was never confirmed by the Senate, and the White House in 2010 decided not to renominate her to the post.
, Smith was born in Chicago
. She earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude in May 1984 from Loyola University Chicago
. She attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law
from 1988 until 1989, and then transferred to the University of Chicago Law School
, where she spent her final two years and earned her Juris Doctor
(J.D.
) in 1991.
Smith worked as a law clerk for United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Judge R. Lanier Anderson III
from 1991 until 1992.
from 1984 until 1987 and as a senior systems engineer for Northern Trust
Corporation from 1987 until 1988.
After law school, Smith took a job as an associate with the law firm of Ross & Hardies, where she worked from 1992 until 1994. From 1994 until 1996, Smith worked as a trial attorney for the Commercial Litigation Branch of the United States Department of Justice
's Civil Division.
From June 1996 until November 1996, Smith worked for the campaign to re-elect President Bill Clinton
. She then worked for several months afterward as a revenue assistant for Clinton's inaugural committee.
For several months in 1997, Smith served as a policy/research analyst for the Welfare to Work Partnership in Washington, D.C. From May 1997 until April 2000, Smith worked as the Associate Director of Policy Planning for the United States Domestic Policy Council
in the Clinton administration. From April 2000 until January 2001, Smith served as the Associate Counsel to the President in the White House Counsel
's office.
From 2001 until 2005, Smith worked as a senior associate for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
in Washington, D.C. She then worked from 2005 until 2007 as senior litigation counsel for Tyco International
.
From June 2008 until present, Smith has worked as a partner at the Chicago law firm of Schoeman Updike Kaufman & Scharf.
to be Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's Tax Division. Republican senators have objected to Smith's nomination, contending that she has little to no tax experience. However, in June 2009, the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
voted 12-7 along party lines to send Smith's nomination to the full Senate.
While waiting to be confirmed, Smith resigned from Schoeman Updike and moved to Washington to take a job in the United States Department of Justice Civil Division
as a senior counsel to Tony West, the Assistant Attorney General for that division. Smith began in that job on February 10, 2010.
Although Smith would have been the highest-ranking Native American ever to serve in the Department of Justice, Republicans in the Senate twice returned Smith's nomination to the White House. After Republicans did so in August 2010, White House officials said Obama would not renominate her to the post and that she would pursue other opportunities.
and also has a condominium unit in the Streeterville
neighborhood of Chicago.
United States Department of Justice Civil Division
The United States Department of Justice Civil Division represents the United States, its departments and agencies, Members of Congress, Cabinet officers and other Federal employees...
. From 2009 until August 2010, she had been a presidential nominee to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. However, she was never confirmed by the Senate, and the White House in 2010 decided not to renominate her to the post.
Early life and education
A Native American and member of the Cherokee NationCherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
, Smith was born in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. She earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude in May 1984 from Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
. She attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Loyola University Chicago School of Law is the law school of the Loyola University Chicago, in Illinois. Established in 1909, by the Society of Jesus, the Roman Catholic order of the Jesuits, the School of Law is located in downtown Chicago, within walking distance of the Water Tower , the John...
from 1988 until 1989, and then transferred to the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
, where she spent her final two years and earned her Juris Doctor
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...
(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...
) in 1991.
Smith worked as a law clerk for United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Middle District of Alabama...
Judge R. Lanier Anderson III
R. Lanier Anderson III
Robert Lanier Anderson III is a senior U.S. Circuit Court Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.- Early life and education :...
from 1991 until 1992.
Professional career
Smith worked as a systems programmer for WalgreensWalgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
from 1984 until 1987 and as a senior systems engineer for Northern Trust
Northern Trust
Northern Trust Corporation is an international financial services company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It provides investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking services through a network of 85 offices in 18 U.S. states and 12 international offices in North...
Corporation from 1987 until 1988.
After law school, Smith took a job as an associate with the law firm of Ross & Hardies, where she worked from 1992 until 1994. From 1994 until 1996, Smith worked as a trial attorney for the Commercial Litigation Branch of the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
's Civil Division.
From June 1996 until November 1996, Smith worked for the campaign to re-elect President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. She then worked for several months afterward as a revenue assistant for Clinton's inaugural committee.
For several months in 1997, Smith served as a policy/research analyst for the Welfare to Work Partnership in Washington, D.C. From May 1997 until April 2000, Smith worked as the Associate Director of Policy Planning for the United States Domestic Policy Council
United States Domestic Policy Council
The Domestic Policy Council of the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering domestic policy matters, excluding economic matters, which are the domain of the National Economic Council...
in the Clinton administration. From April 2000 until January 2001, Smith served as the Associate Counsel to the President in the White House Counsel
White House Counsel
The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States.-Role:The Counsel's role is to advise the President on all legal issues concerning the President and the White House...
's office.
From 2001 until 2005, Smith worked as a senior associate for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates , founded in 1948, is a prominent law firm based in New York City. With over 2,000 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world. Forbes magazine calls Skadden "Wall Street's most powerful law firm"...
in Washington, D.C. She then worked from 2005 until 2007 as senior litigation counsel for Tyco International
Tyco International
Tyco International Ltd. is a highly diversified global manufacturing company incorporated in Switzerland, with United States operational headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey...
.
From June 2008 until present, Smith has worked as a partner at the Chicago law firm of Schoeman Updike Kaufman & Scharf.
Nomination to be Assistant Attorney General
On April 8, 2009, Smith was nominated by President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
to be Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's Tax Division. Republican senators have objected to Smith's nomination, contending that she has little to no tax experience. However, in June 2009, the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
voted 12-7 along party lines to send Smith's nomination to the full Senate.
While waiting to be confirmed, Smith resigned from Schoeman Updike and moved to Washington to take a job in the United States Department of Justice Civil Division
United States Department of Justice Civil Division
The United States Department of Justice Civil Division represents the United States, its departments and agencies, Members of Congress, Cabinet officers and other Federal employees...
as a senior counsel to Tony West, the Assistant Attorney General for that division. Smith began in that job on February 10, 2010.
Although Smith would have been the highest-ranking Native American ever to serve in the Department of Justice, Republicans in the Senate twice returned Smith's nomination to the White House. After Republicans did so in August 2010, White House officials said Obama would not renominate her to the post and that she would pursue other opportunities.
Personal
Smith lives in Lansing, IllinoisLansing, Illinois
Lansing is a village in Cook County, Illinois, USA. Lansing is a southern suburb of Chicago. The population was 28,332 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
and also has a condominium unit in the Streeterville
Streeterville
Streeterville is a neighborhood in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States, north of the Chicago River in Cook County...
neighborhood of Chicago.