Edward G. Smith
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Edward G. Smith was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In August of 2013, President Obama nominated Smith for a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.[1] Smith was confirmed on March 26, 2014 by the U.S. Senate on a vote of 69-31.[2] He left office on November 27, 2023, when he died.[3]
Prior to joining the district court, he was a judge on the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.[4] Smith was first elected to the Court of Common Pleas in 2001 and retained in 2011. His term ended in 2014 when he was confirmed to a United States district court.[5]
Education
Smith earned his undergraduate degree from Franklin & Marshall College in 1983 and his J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University in 1986.[6][7]
Professional career
- 2014-2023: Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- 2001-2014: Judge, Northampton County Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania
- 2012-2014: Supervising Judge of the Grand Jury
- 2004-2014: Presiding Judge, Asbestos Division
- 1990-2014: United States Navy Reserve, Judge Advocate General's Corps
- *2009-2014: Commanding Officer
- 2007-2008: Rule of Law Advisor
- 2004-2007, 2008-2009, 2011-2012: Military Judge
- 1990-2004: Counsel
- 1997-2001: Solicitor, Northampton County Industrial Development Authority
- 1996-1998: Assistant Solicitor, County of Northampton
- 1991-1999: Special Deputy Attorney General, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- 1990-2001: Partner, DeRaymond & Smith
- 1984-1990: United States Navy, Judge Advocate General's Corps
- 1988-1990: Senior Trial/Defense Counsel, Naval Legal Service Office (NLSO)
- 1987-1988: Assistant Force Judge Advocate for the Commander Naval Air Force
- 1985: Assistant Federal Tort Claims Officer, NLSO
- 1986: Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar[5]
Judicial career
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Edward G. Smith |
| Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 237 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: August 1, 2013
|
| ABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: November 6, 2013
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: January 16, 2014
|
| Confirmed: March 26, 2014
|
| Vote: 69-31
|
On August 1, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Edward G. Smith to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to fill the vacancy left by Berle Schiller.[1] Obama commented on the nomination, stating:
| “ | I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench. They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Court.[7][8] | ” |
Smith was rated Unanimously Well Qualified by the American Bar Association.[9]
Smith's nomination was returned by the Senate on January 3, 2014, and he was renominated on January 6th by President Obama.[10]
Smith's nomination was reported to the full Senate on January 16, 204 after a voice vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee.[11] Edward G. Smith was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 26, 2014 by a vote of 69-31.[2] Smith's confirmation received praise in a joint statement by Senators Bob Casey, Jr. and Pat Toomey:
| “ | Sen. Casey and I have worked hard to select qualified jurists to fill vacancies on the bench in Pennsylvania. The approval of these two excellent candidates demonstrates the strength and effectiveness of our bipartisan system, which has led to the confirmation of 10 highly qualified men and women to the federal bench in Pennsylvania since I joined the Senate in 2011.[12][8] | ” |
2011 Court of Common Pleas election
Smith was retained with a "yes" vote of 73.3%.[13]
- See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2011
Awards and associations
Awards
Military
|
|
Civil
|
|
Associations
|
|
See also
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas
- Courts in Pennsylvania
- Northampton County, Pennsylvania
External links
- Northampton County Judges
- Northampton County Courts
- "President Obama Nominates Six to Serve on the United States District Courts" 8/1/2013
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" 8/1/2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Federal Judicial Center, "(Confirmation Edward G. Smith, of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. District Judge)," accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ Senate.gov, "Smith, Edward George," accessed November 27, 2023
- ↑ Pennsylvania Courts, "Pennsylvania Common Pleas Judges," accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Northampton County Court of Common Pleas, "Judge Edward G. Smith," accessed July 10, 2013
- ↑ Martindale, "Judge Profile: Edward G. Smith," accessed July 10, 2013
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "President Obama Nominates Six to Serve on the United States District Courts" 8/1/2013
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III JUDICIAL NOMINEES 113TH CONGRESS," accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ White House, "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate," January 7, 2014
- ↑ Thomas.gov, "Presidential Nominations 113th Congress (2013 - 2014) PN1210-113" accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Judge Smith's nomination to federal bench approved by Senate," March 26, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, Unofficial Election Results - Court of Common Pleas, Retention
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questions for Judicial Nominees," accessed November 20, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Berle Schiller |
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 2014-2023 |
Succeeded by Catherine Henry |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominated | |||
Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
