Judge Smith was sworn in as U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Florida in July 2011. He is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Law and has past experience as an assistant state attorney and a commercial litigator at Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A. and Holland & Knight, LLP. In December 2001, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Judge Smith to the Circuit Court bench, Ninth Judicial District of Florida, where he served for 9 ½ years before going on the federal bench. Judge Smith was the inaugural Chairman of the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions-Contract and Business Cases. He also serves on the Executive Council of the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar. Prior to becoming a federal judge, Judge Smith was a founder and director of the American College of Business Court Judges.