M ▁University ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁cum ▁la ude . ▁He ▁earned ▁his ▁Jur is ▁Doctor ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁from ▁Michigan ▁State ▁University , ▁also ▁cum ▁la ude . ▁ ▁Smith ▁served ▁as ▁an ▁Ass istant ▁County ▁Att orney ▁for ▁the ▁Miami - D ade ▁County ' s ▁Att orney ' s ▁office ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁He ▁then ▁was ▁in ▁private ▁practice ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁From ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁Senior ▁Ass istant ▁City ▁Att orney ▁for ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Miami ▁Beach . ▁Governor ▁Charlie ▁Crist ▁appointed ▁him ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁to ▁pres ide ▁as ▁a ▁judge ▁of ▁the ▁Miami - D ade ▁County ▁Court , ▁where ▁he ▁served ▁until ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁Governor ▁Rick ▁Scott ▁appointed ▁him ▁to ▁the ▁Ele vent h ▁Jud icial ▁Circ uit ▁Court ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁where ▁he ▁served ▁until ▁his ▁elev ation ▁to ▁the ▁federal ▁ben ch ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 9 . ▁ ▁Federal ▁jud icial ▁service ▁▁ ▁Smith ▁was ▁mentioned ▁as ▁a ▁potential ▁jud icial ▁nom ine e ▁in ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁On ▁April ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁President ▁Trump ▁announced ▁his ▁intent ▁to ▁nomin ate ▁Smith ▁to ▁serve ▁as ▁a ▁United ▁States ▁District ▁Judge ▁of