William E. Smith

I give the judge high overall marks. My frustration is with his docket management. He does not drive cases forward to trial in an aggressive manner, and leaves discovery matters to his magistrate. That said, one of the better judges in the circuit

Judge Smith is an ideal judge for any civil litigation matter. He is unfailingly polite and courteous to the attorneys and parties, and treats the greenest litigator in the same manner as he would a seasoned vet. He is prepared for every argument and generally probes both sides with thoughtful and often difficult questions. He is smart and well-credentialed, both in terms of education and prior law firm experience. His reasoning on decisions is sound and usually reflects research and analysis outside the content of the briefs. He knows and appropriately applies the Rules of Evidence at trial. In over a decade of practice before him, Judge Smith has ruled against me about as often as he has ruled for me, but I have never had a situation where I believed his ruling was sufficiently erroneous to take an appeal.

Excellent demeanor Smart Practical Labor law background (represented employers)