Hon. Jerry E. Smith

Judge Smith was appointed U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit by President Reagan and entered on duty in January 1988.  He attended public schools in Lubbock, Texas, and graduated from Yale University, receiving a B.A. in 1969 and a J.D. in 1972.

Judge Smith was a Law Clerk to U.S. District Judge Halbert Woodward, Northern District of Texas, 1972-1973; with the Houston law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski as an Associate, 1973-1981, and as Partner, 1981-1984; and as City Attorney, City of Houston, 1984-1988.  He was Chairman, Civil Service Com­mission, City of Houston, 1982-1984; and a Director, Harris County Housing Authority, 1978-1980.

Judge Smith lives in Houston and is married to Mary Jane Smith and has four children:  Ruth Ann, Clark, J.J., and Brandon.  He formerly was Chair of the Advisory Committee on Federal Rules of Evidence of the Judicial Conference of the United States.  He assists LexisNexis/Matthew Bender & Co. in periodic revisions of several chapters of Moore’s Federal Practice.