Dr. William Smith

Biography

Judge William E. Smith was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island by President George W. Bush in 2002 and has served as Chief Judge from 2013 to 2019, becoming the youngest person ever to hold that position in the district's history. He assumed senior status in January 2025. Smith is active in federal judicial administration and education, serving on various Judicial Conference Committees, including those for Judicial Resources, Information Technology, and Financial Disclosure. He chairs the Federal Judicial Center’s Committee on District Judge Education and is a mentor for newly appointed mid-career judges. He is also involved with numerous community boards and previously served as the chair of the board at Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island, where he taught as an Adjunct Professor for fifteen years. Before his judicial appointment, Judge Smith was a partner at Edwards & Angell in Providence, Rhode Island, with a practice focused on labor and employment law, representing state and municipal agencies, colleges and universities, non-profits, and private employers. In 1999-2000, he ran the Rhode Island Office for Senator Lincoln Chafee.

Research Interests