Hon. Bradley A. Smith

Bradley A. Smith is the Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Professor of Law at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He has held prior visiting appointments at Princeton University and West Virginia University. 

Professor Smith is the author or co-author of three books on election law and voting rights, and his articles have appeared both in academic publications including the Yale Law Journal, Georgetown Law Journal, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, George Washington University Law Review, the Harvard Business Law Journal, the Stanford Law & Policy Review, and many others, and in popular publications including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, the Atlantic, National Review, and elsewhere. He was recognized in 2016 as one of the nation’s top 10 scholars in the field of election law based on scholarly impact.

From June 2000 until August 2005, Professor Smith served as Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission, including as Vice Chairman in 2003 and Chairman in 2004.

Professor Smith is also the founder and Chairman of the Institute for Free Speech, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting and defending American citizens’ First Amendment political speech rights.

He is a cum laude graduate of both Kalamazoo College and Harvard Law School.