---
title: "Christopher Smith | KnowJudges"
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# Christopher Smith

Rhode Island Superior Court · Associate Justice

## Profile

- Court: Rhode Island Superior Court
- State: Rhode Island
- Role: Associate Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Christopher K. Smith is an associate judge of the Rhode Island District Court, appointed by Governor Gina Raimondo on January 1, 2019
- In short: Judge Christopher K. Smith is a Rhode Island District Court associate judge with a background in public defense and specialized environmental law, appointed in 2019 to serve the judicial community in Providence County
- Before becoming a judge, Smith served as a public defender in the Rhode Island Public Defender’s Office from 2010 to 2018
- This experience gave him direct exposure to the criminal justice process and the needs of defense counsel

### Education

- Hamilton College — bio-5fdcbaf6a012; user_supplied_research
- Roger Williams University School of Law — bio-5fdcbaf6a012; user_supplied_research
- University of Oregon School of Law — bio-5fdcbaf6a012; user_supplied_research — LL.M.
- Educational background includes Hamilton College

### Additional information

- District Court judicial service from 2019 preceded appointment to Superior Court in 2023.
- representing indigent clients facing both misdemeanor and felony charges.
- Former Rhode Island public defender.
- Christopher Smith serves on the Rhode Island Superior Court.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### cell phone use

Scope: courtwide

Rhode Island Supreme Court courthouse rules prohibit cellular telephone use in courtrooms and prohibit cell-phone camera and video use in the courthouse.

Evidence excerpt: Cellular telephone use is strictly prohibited in the courtrooms. Cellular telephone camera and video is strictly prohibited in the courthouse.

[Supreme Court Courthouse Rules](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/Your%20Day%20In%20Court/Courthouse%20Rules%20February%205,%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### recording equipment

Scope: courtwide

Rhode Island courthouse rules list photographic and audio-visual equipment, including cameras and audio or video recorders, as prohibited items.

Evidence excerpt: No photographic or audio-visual equipment of any type, including cameras, video, or audio recorders or players.

[Supreme Court Courthouse Rules](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/Your%20Day%20In%20Court/Courthouse%20Rules%20February%205,%202024.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/JudicialRoster.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/JudicialRoster.pdf)
- [Rhode Island Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/JudicialRoster.pdf)
- [Calendars and Public Access to Court Hearings](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Pages/PublicAccessCourtHearings.aspx)
- [Supreme Court Courthouse Rules](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/Your%20Day%20In%20Court/Courthouse%20Rules%20February%205,%202024.pdf)
- [Supreme Court Courthouse Rules, revised February 2024](https://www.courts.ri.gov/Public-Resources/Documents/Your%20Day%20In%20Court/Courthouse%20Rules%20February%205,%202024.pdf)

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