William Francis Smith
Appointed by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and confirmed by voice vote, William Francis Smith was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He earned a law degree from New Jersey Law School (now Rutgers School of Law -- Newark) in 1929. He previously served on the District of New Jersey.Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, August 30, 1961
- Appointed by
- John F. Kennedy, 1961
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- New Jersey Law School (now Rutgers Law -- Newark) 1929
- Succeeded
- Phillip Forman
- Succeeded by
- James Hunter III
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | District of New Jersey | Roosevelt (D) | voice |
| 1961 | Third Circuit · succeeded Phillip Forman | Kennedy (D) | 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.
6 years on the Third Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).