Before the IL Supreme Court appointed Judge Smith to the bench in 2019, Judge Smith was a licensed, practicing attorney for 26 years in Illinois, with 8 of those years in Missouri. Most of that time has been dedicated to public service through state and county governments in child protection law with some practice in juvenile justice, domestic relations and worker’s compensation.
In addition to being a circuit judge in the Child Protection Division of the Cook County Juvenile Court since 2020, Judge Smith volunteers to hear Benchmark cases with youth who have a permanency goal of Independence. Judge Smith previously served two years on the IL Supreme Court Committee on Justice and Mental Health Planning and continues to serve on the Il Supreme Court’s Committee for Juvenile Court, since 2022. In addition, Judge Smith serves on the Judicial Subcommittee on the SAFE Model Implementation by the IL Department of Children & Family Services (to help wards of the court return home sooner). Moreover, Judge Smith has been asked–and has consented– to serve as faculty at the 2026 Education Conference for Judges. Judge Smith continues to volunteer in the Operation PUSH Oratorical Coaching for elementary and high school students and has also volunteered as guest presenter at a law school class on child protection law and as guest panelist on DePaul Law School’s Family Law Center Symposium. He also served on the Empire (national) mock trial, as well as a local (South Suburban) high school mock trial and volunteered as a speaker at a high school during Law Week.
Judge Smith is a member of the Cook County Bar Association, Lesbian & Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LGBTQ+), Chicago Bar Association, National Bar Association (and its Judicial & LGBTQ+ committees), Illinois Judicial Council, Association of Illinois Judges, and Illinois Judicial Association.