Brooks Smith at a glance
- Current role
- Municipal Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Tennessee · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Brooks Smith
Municipal Court Judge · Tennessee Municipal Court, Davidson County
Biography
Professional career
- He previously held the role of Chief Judge of the Third Circuit from 2016 to 2021
- David Brookman “Brooks” Smith is a senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, appointed in 2002 and elevated to senior status in 2021
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2002–2021) Nominated by President George W. Bush, confirmed in 2002 held the role of Chief Judge (2016–2021) Assumed senior status on December 4, 2021
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (1988–2002) Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, confirmed by the Senate in 1988 held the role of Chief Judge (2001–2002)
- Was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Blair County (1984–1988) and later Administrative Judge (1986–1988)
- Notable as the only judge in Third Circuit history to have held the role of both a chief district judge and chief of the court of appeals
- Currently a senior judge on the Third Circuit, which hears appeals from federal cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Education
Additional information
- Year Elected/Appointed: 2026
- Smith has been active in judicial leadership, serving on the Judicial Conference of the United States (2016–2021) and as a member of the American Law Institute.
- He has also contributed to judicial development in Central and Eastern Europe, the Philippines, Moldova, and other regions
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 30 allows media coverage of public judicial proceedings subject to the presiding judge's control and requires written media requests at least two business days before the proceeding unless waived.
Requests by representatives of the media for such coverage must be made in writing to the presiding judge not less than two (2) business days before the proceeding is scheduled to begin.Rule 30: Media Guidelines ↗
Statewide
Tennessee Rule 30 prohibits media coverage of jury selection, jurors, closed proceedings, and certain minor or juvenile-court participants.
Media coverage of jury selection is prohibited.Rule 30: Media Guidelines ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 55 permits teleconferencing, video conferencing, or other technology for court proceedings at the discretion of the trial or appellate court.
The use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to conduct court proceedings or other court business remotely is permissible at the discretion of the trial or appellate court.Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Rule 30: Media Guidelines
Tennessee Municipal Court, Davidson County
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster ↗Rule 30: Media Guidelines
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Rule 30: Media Guidelines ↗Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings ↗