Who appointed James Francis Smith?

President William H. Taft appointed James Francis Smith to the U.S. Court of Customs Appeals (later U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals) in 1910.

Was James Francis Smith appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?

James Francis Smith was appointed by President William H. Taft, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.

What was James Francis Smith's confirmation vote?

James Francis Smith was confirmed by voice vote on March 30, 1910. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.

U.S. Court of Customs Appeals (later U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals) / Appointed 1910 / Served to 1928

James Francis Smith

Associate Judge, U.S. Court of Customs Appeals (later U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals)

Appointed by President William H. Taft in 1910 and confirmed by voice vote, James Francis Smith was an Associate Judge on the U.S. Court of Customs Appeals (later U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals). Sources ↓

Lived: 1859–1928
Appointed by: William H. Taft, 1910
Confirmed: by voice vote
Education: Santa Clara College (now Santa Clara) 1877
Succeeded by: Finis James Garrett

Federal judicial service

Year	Court	Appointed by	Vote
1910	U.S. Court of Customs Appeals (later U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals)	Taft (R)	Voice vote

Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.

Confirmation vote

Voice vote

The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.

Education

University of California Hastings College of the Law (now UC College of the Law, San Francisco)
Santa Clara College (now Santa Clara University)	B.S.	1877
Santa Clara College (now Santa Clara University)	B.A., M.A.	1878

Questions & answers

Who appointed James Francis Smith?: President William H. Taft appointed James Francis Smith to the U.S. Court of Customs Appeals (later U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals) in 1910.
Was James Francis Smith appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?: James Francis Smith was appointed by President William H. Taft, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
What was James Francis Smith's confirmation vote?: James Francis Smith was confirmed by voice vote on March 30, 1910. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
Which court was James Francis Smith on?: James Francis Smith was an Associate Judge on the U.S. Court of Customs Appeals (later U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals).

Sources

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18 years on the U.S. Court of Customs Appeals (later U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals). Data as of 2026-08-10. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).