▁the ▁United ▁States ▁District ▁Court ▁for ▁the ▁Southern ▁District ▁of ▁Florida . ▁On ▁May ▁ 7 , ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁his ▁nom ination ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁the ▁Senate . ▁He ▁was ▁nominated ▁to ▁the ▁seat ▁vac ated ▁by ▁Judge ▁Robin ▁S . ▁Rosen baum , ▁who ▁was ▁elev ated ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Court ▁of ▁App e als ▁for ▁the ▁Ele vent h ▁Circ uit ▁on ▁June ▁ 2 , ▁ 2 0 1 4 . ▁On ▁October ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁a ▁hearing ▁on ▁his ▁nom ination ▁was ▁held ▁before ▁the ▁Senate ▁Jud ici ary ▁Committee . ▁▁ ▁On ▁January ▁ 3 , ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁his ▁nom ination ▁was ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁President ▁under ▁Rule ▁XXX I , ▁Par agraph ▁ 6 ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Senate . ▁On ▁January ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁President ▁Trump ▁announced ▁his ▁intent ▁to ▁ren omin ate ▁Smith ▁for ▁a ▁federal ▁jud ges hip . ▁His ▁nom ination ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁the ▁Senate ▁later ▁that ▁day . ▁On ▁February ▁ 7 , ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁his ▁nom ination ▁was ▁reported ▁out ▁of ▁committee ▁by ▁a ▁ 1 7 – 5 ▁vote . ▁On ▁June ▁ 1 1 , ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁the ▁Senate ▁voted ▁ 7 7 – 1 9 ▁to ▁invoke ▁cl ot ure ▁on ▁his ▁nom ination . ▁On ▁June ▁ 1 2 , ▁ 2 0 1 9