Steven Lee Smith at a glance
- Current role
- Court of Appeals Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Steven Lee Smith
Court of Appeals Justice · Texas 10th Court of Appeals
Biography
Professional career
- Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 10th District (Waco), Waco, TX, 2021-present
- Republican‐appointed justice of Place 3 on the Texas 10th Court of Appeals, serving since August 6, 2021, after a long career as a trial court judge in Brazos County.
- Presiding Judge, Texas 361st Judicial District Court, Bryan, TX, 2019-2021
- Presiding Judge, Texas 361st Judicial District Court, Bryan, TX, 2015-2018
- Presiding Judge, Texas 361st Judicial District Court, Bryan, TX, 2011-2014
- Presiding Judge, Texas 361st Judicial District Court, Bryan, TX, 2007-2010
- Presiding Judge, Texas 361st Judicial District Court, Bryan, TX, 2003-2006
- Judge, Texas 361st Judicial District Court, Bryan, TX, 1999-2002
- Judge, Texas County Courts at Law, Brazos County Court at Law No.1, College Station, TX, 1995-1998
- Partner, Hoelscher, Lipsey, Elmore & Smith, College Station, TX, 1988-1994
- Judge, College Station Municipal Court, College Station, TX, 1988-1994
- Also Municipal Judge for College Station from 1988 to 1994
- Partner, Dillon, Lewis, Elmore & Smith, Bryan, TX, 1985-1988
- Associate then Partner, Dillon & Giesenschlag, Bryan, TX, 1979-1984
- Legal practice as a shareholder at Hoelscher, Lipsey, Elmore & Smith and Dillon & Giesenschlag
Education
- JD — The University of Texas at Austin — 1977
- University of Texas School of Law — J.D. (1977)
- B.M.Ed. in Music Education from Abilene Christian University (1974)
Additional information
- His initial term ran through December 31, 2022, but he was re‐elected in the special general election of November 8, 2022, and his current term extends to December 31, 2028.
- adj-prof, Blinn College, 2000-present
- Appointed to the Tenth Court of Appeals of Texas by Governor Greg Abbott on August 6, 2021, succeeding the retired Hon. John Neill.
- Justice Smith has held the role of Chair of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas (2010–2011) and is a Sustaining Life Fellow of both the State Bar of Texas and the American Bar Association.
- Practitioner, Dillon, Giesenschlag, Sharp & Delaney, Bryan, TX, 1977-1978
- Music Education, with high honors — Abilene Christian University — 1974
- Date of birth: 1952-04-19
- Before joining the Court of Appeals, Justice Smith had more than two decades in the 361st District Court of Brazos County, Texas.
- Justice Smith and his late wife Becky are the parents of Christopher, a technology entrepreneur in Abilene, and Laura, an attorney in Washington, D.C.
- He has taught judicial education courses in 13 states and holds a Certificate in General Jurisdiction Trial Skills from the National Judicial College.
- He sits at Place 3 on the court.
- Birth place: San Antonio, TX
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Filing requirements
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing
Texas 10th Court of Appeals
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 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing ↗