N. Randy Smith

Norman Randy Smith' is a senior United States Circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He was nominated twice by U.S. president George W. Bush, the first was on December 16, 2005, to fill the vacancy of Judge Stephen S. Trott. But his nomination stalled in Congress with opposition from Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer who argued that he was an Idahoan and had been nominated to a California seat. Bush resubmitted his name on January 16, 2007, to fill the seat left open by Idaho Judge Thomas G. Nelson. Smith was unanimously confirmed on February 15, 2007. He had been a state judge for the sixth district in Pocatello from 1995 to his confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

He assumed senior status on August 11, 2018.

Judge Smith was born on August 11, 1949, in Logan, Utah. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1974 and his juris doctor degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. He practiced law from 1977 to 1981 as associate and assistant general counsel for the J.R. Simplot Company. He also taught business and accounting courses at Boise State University from 1979 to 1981.

He was with the law firm Merrill & Merrill as a civil litigator for thirteen years. He became a partner in 1984 and left private practice in 1995. He also became an adjunct professor at Idaho State University in 1984. He also served as the chairman of the Idaho Republican Party from 1993 to 1994.

In 2005, Judge Smith received Idaho State University’s “Statesman of the Year” award for his efforts to reduce crime and prevent recidivism.

In 2003, he received the Idaho Court system’s George G. Granada Jr. Award for Professionalism as a trial judge in recognition of his demonstrated professionalism and for motivating and inspiring his colleagues on the bench by character and action.

In 2004–2005 he was the first adjunct faculty member to be selected as the Outstanding Teacher by the Idaho State University College of Business.

He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.