Paul Smith (lawyer)

Paul Smith (lawyer) is a prominent American Bar Association member and Georgetown University Law Center graduate, known for his expertise in First Amendment law and United States Supreme Court cases. He has worked with notable figures such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer on various Constitutional law cases, including McConnell v. Federal Election Commission and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Smith's work has been influenced by Harvard Law School professors like Laurence Tribe and Noam Chomsky, and he has taught at New York University School of Law and University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. His expertise has been sought by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

● Early Life and Education

Paul Smith was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Maryland, where he attended Walt Whitman High School. He then went on to study at University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and was influenced by professors like Robert Post and Cass Sunstein. Smith later attended Georgetown University Law Center, earning his Juris Doctor degree and serving as an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal, alongside notable alumni like Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch. During his time at Georgetown, he was exposed to the work of United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit judges like Merrick Garland and Douglas Ginsburg.

● Career

Smith began his career as a law clerk for Judge James L. Buckley of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, working on cases like Rust v. Sullivan and Meyer v. Grant. He then joined the law firm Jenner & Block, where he worked alongside Craig Goldblatt and Samuel Alito on cases like Bush v. Gore and Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. Smith has also worked with organizations like the National Women's Law Center and the Human Rights Campaign, advocating for LGBT rights and Reproductive rights. His work has been recognized by the National Bar Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association, and he has been a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the New York State Bar Association.

● Notable Cases

Smith has argued several notable cases before the United States Supreme Court, including Lawrence v. Texas and United States v. Windsor, working alongside Theodore Olson and David Boies. He has also worked on cases like Grutter v. Bollinger and Fisher v. University of Texas, advocating for Affirmative action and Diversity (politics). Smith's expertise in First Amendment law has been sought in cases like New York Times Co. v. Sullivan and Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, and he has worked with Media organizations like the New York Times and the Washington Post. His work has been influenced by United States Supreme Court justices like William Rehnquist and Sandra Day O'Connor, and he has been a member of the Supreme Court Historical Society.

● Awards and Recognition

Smith has received numerous awards for his work, including the Thurgood Marshall Award from the American Bar Association and the Edward J. Devitt Award from the National Center for State Courts. He has also been recognized by the National Association of Women Judges and the Hispanic National Bar Association, and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgetown University Law Center. Smith's work has been praised by United States Senators like Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch, and he has been a member of the American Law Institute and the National Academy of Sciences.

● Personal Life

Smith is married to Katherine Smith, a Yale Law School graduate and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom partner, and they have two children, Emily Smith and James Smith. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the New York State Bar Association, and has served on the board of directors for organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Women's Law Center. Smith has also been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Brennan Center for Justice, and has worked with International organizations like the United Nations and the European Court of Human Rights. His work has been influenced by International law experts like Louis Henkin and Theodore Meron, and he has taught at University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.