Role U.S. representative | Name J. Smith Preceded by Carroll C. Hincks | |
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Education | ||
John Joseph Smith (January 25, 1904 – February 16, 1980) was an American lawyer, member of the United States House of Representatives, and federal judge from Connecticut.
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Early life and education
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, Smith attended the public schools, and earned his B.A. from Yale University in 1925 and his LL.B. degree from Yale's law department (later Yale Law School) in 1927.
Career
Smith was admitted to the bar in 1927. He was a research fellow at Yale Law School from 1927 to 1928. He was in private practice in Waterbury from 1928 to 1941.
Smith served in the Field Artillery Reserves from 1925 to 1935.
He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives, serving as a representative from Connecticut from 1935 to 1941 (in the Seventy-fourth, Seventy-fifth, Seventy-sixth, and Seventy-seventh Congresses).
On October 16, 1941, Smith was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, to the seat vacated by Edwin S. Thomas. Smith was confirmed by the Senate on October 28, 1941, and he received commission two days later. Smith resigned his seat in Congress to assume his judicial post. Smith served as chief judge of the court from 1953 to 1960.
On January 11, 1960, Smith was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, to the seat vacated by Carroll Clark Hincks. Smith was confirmed by the Senate on September 1, 1960, and received commission the next day.
Later life and death
Smith assumed senior status on November 6, 1971. He remained on the court until his death in Waterbury on February 16, 1980. Smith is interred at Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury.
Personal life
Smith resided in West Hartford, Connecticut.