Lavenski Smith

Lavenski R. Smith (born October 31, 1958) is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He was nominated to that court by President George W. Bush on September 4, 2001 and was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 15, 2002 by voice vote.

Smith, a lifelong Arkansan, is a native of Hope, graduating from Hope High School. He received both his B.A. and his J.D. from the University of Arkansas.

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. Smith had also been an assistant professor at John Brown University and an Executive Director of the Rutherford Institute.