---
title: "Craig Smith | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/craig-smith-tx-5th-court-appeals"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Craig Smith

Texas 5th Court of Appeals · Court of Appeals Justice

## Profile

- Court: Texas 5th Court of Appeals
- State: Texas
- Role: Court of Appeals Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

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

## 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

### appellate electronic filing

Scope: statewide

In Texas appellate courts, attorneys must electronically file civil and criminal documents, subject to a good-cause motion; self-represented parties may e-file but are not required to do so.

Evidence excerpt: Attorneys in civil cases must electronically file documents. Attorneys in criminal cases must electronically file documents except for good cause shown in a motion filed in the appellate court.

[Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.txcourts.gov/5thcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-craig-smith/)
- [Official roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/5thcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-craig-smith/)
- [Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/5thcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-craig-smith/)
- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Before joining the appellate court, Smith was Presiding Judge of the 192nd Civil District Court in Dallas County from 2007 to 2021.
- Democratic‐party judge for Place 6 of the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals, elected November 3, 2020, with a career spanning over 26 years as a civil trial attorney and prior service as Presiding Judge of Dallas County’s 192nd Civil District Court

### Education



### Additional information

- 5th Court of Appeals of Texas, a position he assumed January 1, 2021, after winning the November 3, 2020 general election.
- Pro Bono Services Judge of the Year — Dallas Bar Association, 2008
- Judge of the Year — American Board of Trial Advocates, 2008
- First elected to that bench in 2006.
- Prior to that, he spent over 25 years in private practice as a civil trial lawyer
- Smith is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Law.
- He has served on the State Bar of Texas Court Administration Task Force Committee and Pattern Jury Charge Committee.
- He is an Advocate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has served on its National Board



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e966a5411b2587c600cf3508) — 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](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.