--- title: "William E. Smith | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-smith-3028" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # William E. Smith U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island - State: Rhode Island - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, D. Rhode Island, 2002-present - District judge, 2002–2024; senior judge, 2024–2026; now retired - Commissioned on November 15, 2002, he served as chief judge from 2013 to 2019; the court lists active service through 2024 and senior service from 2024 to 2026 - William Smith | Watson School of International and Public Affairs Biography Judge William E. Smith was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island by President George W. Bush in 2002 - Staff director in Senator Lincoln Chafee’s Rhode Island office, 2000–2001 - Judge (part-time), West Warwick Rhode Island Municipal Court, 1993-1998 - Staff director, Rhode Island office, U.S. Sen - Retired U.S. district judge for Rhode Island - William Edward Smith is a retired United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island and a former federal judicial nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ### Education - Georgetown University Law Center — bio-c40afd614a56; user_supplied_research — J.D. (1987) - Georgetown University — bio-c40afd614a56; user_supplied_research — B.A. (1982) ### Additional information - Joined the court in 2002 after being nominated by President George W. Bush. - Private practice, Providence, RI, 2001-2002 - Adjunct faculty, Providence College, 2000-2002 - Private practice in Providence, 1987–2000 and 2001–2002. - Private practice, Providence, RI, 1987-2000 - Georgetown B.A. in 1982 and Georgetown Law J.D. in 1987. - Born December 31, 1959. - Date of birth: 1959-01-01 - Before joining the federal bench, he practiced in Providence, served part time on West Warwick Municipal Court, and worked for Senator Lincoln Chafee. - Birth place: Boise, ID ## 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.courtlistener.com/person/3028/william-e-smith/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3028/william-e-smith/) - [U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3028/william-e-smith/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3028/william-e-smith/) - [William E. Smith (Rhode Island) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/William_E._Smith_(Rhode_Island)) - [William Smith | Watson School of International and Public Affairs](https://home.watson.brown.edu/people/faculty/senior-fellows/alumni/william-smith) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3028/william-e-smith/) - [William E. Smith (Rhode Island) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/William_E._Smith_(Rhode_Island)) - [William Smith | Watson School of International and Public Affairs](https://home.watson.brown.edu/people/faculty/senior-fellows/alumni/william-smith) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-smith-3028", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-smith-3028", "name": "William E. Smith | KnowJudges", "description": "William E. Smith, U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-smith-3028#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-smith-3028#judge", "name": "William E. 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