▁Bush ▁nominated ▁High sm ith ▁on ▁June ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁District ▁Court ▁for ▁the ▁Southern ▁District ▁of ▁Florida , ▁to ▁the ▁seat ▁vac ated ▁by ▁Judge ▁Thomas ▁E . ▁Scott . ▁Conf ir med ▁by ▁the ▁Senate ▁on ▁September ▁ 1 2 , ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁he ▁received ▁commission ▁on ▁September ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 1 9 9 1 . ▁High sm ith ▁assumed ▁senior ▁status ▁on ▁March ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁but ▁stopped ▁hearing ▁cases ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁He ▁died ▁on ▁December ▁ 2 , ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁at ▁his ▁family ' s ▁home ▁in ▁Fort ▁Bel voir , ▁Virginia , ▁from ▁the ▁effects ▁of ▁ad ren al ▁cancer . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁▁ ▁Category : 1 9 2 9 ▁birth s ▁Category : 2 0 1 5 ▁death s ▁Category : Pe ople ▁from ▁Jackson ville , ▁Florida ▁Category : Univers ity ▁of ▁Kansas ▁al umn i ▁Category : Univers ity ▁of ▁Missouri – K ansas ▁City ▁al umn i ▁Category : Miss ouri ▁law y ers ▁Category : F lor ida ▁state ▁court ▁jud ges ▁Category : J ud ges ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁District ▁Court ▁for ▁the ▁Southern ▁District ▁of ▁Florida ▁Category : Un ited ▁States ▁district ▁court ▁jud ges ▁appointed ▁by ▁George ▁H . ▁W . ▁Bush ▁Category : 2 0 th - century ▁American ▁jud ges ▁Category :