Eighth Circuit / Appointed 2002 / Active
Lavenski R. Smith
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002 and confirmed by voice vote, Lavenski R. Smith is a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He earned a law degree from University of Arkansas School of Law in 1987. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, July 15, 2002
- Appointed by
- George W. Bush, 2002
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- University of Arkansas 1981 · University of Arkansas Law 1987
- Succeeded
- Richard Sheppard Arnold
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Eighth Circuit · succeeded Richard Sheppard Arnold | Bush (R) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| University of Arkansas | B.A. | 1981 |
| University of Arkansas School of Law | J.D. | 1987 |
Sources
23 years on the Eighth Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).