Lavenski R. Smith
| Vence Smith | |
|---|---|
| Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit | |
|
Assumed office March 11, 2017 |
|
| Preceded by | William J. Riley |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit | |
|
Assumed office July 19, 2002 |
|
| Appointed by | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Richard S. Arnold |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lavenski R. Smith October 31, 1958 Hope, Arkansas |
| Education |
University of Arkansas B.A. University of Arkansas School of Law J.D. |
Lavenski R. "Vence" Smith (born October 31, 1958) is the Chief United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Smith, a lifelong Arkansan, is a native of Hope, Arkansas, graduating from Hope High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree and his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas School of Law, respectively.
Before joining the federal bench, Smith worked in both private practice and public service. Notably, Governor Mike Huckabee had appointed Smith as an Associate Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court as well as a Commissioner on the Arkansas Public Service Commission. He was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the Arkansas Court of Appeals in 1998. Smith had also been an assistant professor at John Brown University and an Executive Director of the Rutherford Institute.
He was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit by President George W. Bush on September 4, 2001 and was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 15, 2002 by voice vote. He has been Chief Judge since March 11, 2017.
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