---
title: "Lavenski R. Smith | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lavenski-r-smith"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Lavenski R. Smith

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2002-present
- Judge, Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1997-2004
- Associate justice, Arkansas Supreme Court, 1999-2000
- Assistant professor, John Brown University, 1994-1996
- Law clerk in private practice, Arkansas, 1985-1987
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

### Education

- University of Arkansas — B.A. (1981)
- University of Tulsa — B.A.

### Additional information

- Practitioner, 2005-2005
- Arkansas Public Service Commission, 2001-2002
- commissioner, 2001-2002
- Arkansas Public Service Commission, 1997-1999
- chairman, 1997-1999
- Mike Huckabee, AR, 1996-1997
- Practitioner, 1996-1996
- Private practice, Springdale, AR, 1991-1994
- Staff attorney, Ozark Legal Services, 1987-1991
- Date of birth: 1958-11-01
- Regulatory liaison, Gov.
- Hope High School
- Birth place: Hope, AR

## 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 oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391576)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391576)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391576)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3014/lavenski-r-smith/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3014/lavenski-r-smith/)
- [Wikidata: Lavenski Smith](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6502561)

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