Chief Judge D. Brooks Smith
Born 1951 in Altoona, PA
Federal Judicial Service
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Nominated by Ronald Reagan on July 28, 1988, to a seat vacated by Carol Los Mansmann.
Confirmed by the Senate on October 14, 1988, and received commission on October 17, 1988.
Served as chief judge, 2001-2002.
Service terminated on September 23, 2002, due to appointment to another judicial position.
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Nominated by George W. Bush on September 10, 2001, to a seat vacated by Timothy K. Lewis.
Confirmed by the Senate on July 31, 2002, and received commission on August 2, 2002.
Served as chief judge, 2016-2021.
Assumed senior status on December 4, 2021.
Education
Franklin and Marshall College, B.A., 1973
Dickinson School of Law (now Penn State Dickinson Law), J.D., 1976
Professional Career
Private practice, Altoona, Pennsylvania, 1976-1984
Assistant district attorney, Blair County, Pennsylvania, 1977-1979
Special assistant attorney general, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1981-1983
District attorney, Blair County, Pennsylvania, 1983-1984
Judge, Court of Common Pleas of Blair County [Pennsylvania], 1984-1988; administrative judge, 1986-1988
Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 2016-2021