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 "excerpt": "Charles Lynwood Smith, Jr. is an American jurist serving as a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, appointed by President Clinton in 1995.",
 "snippet": "Charles Lynwood Smith, Jr. is an American jurist serving as a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, appointed by President Clinton in 1995.",
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 "markdown": "# Charles L. Smith, Jr.\n\nCharles Lynwood Smith, Jr. (born 1943) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.<sup>[1](https://cm.hsvchamber.org/list/member/judge-c-lynwood-smith-jr-2038)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President William J. Clinton, receiving his commission in 1995.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> He assumed senior status on August 31, 2013.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | William J. Clinton<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | December 22, 1995, by voice vote<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> |\n| Senior status | August 31, 2013<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> |\n| Born | 1943 in Talladega, Alabama<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., University of Alabama, 1966; M.A., Rutgers University, 1967; J.D., University of Alabama School of Law, 1971<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nSmith was born in 1943 in Talladega, Alabama.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) degree from the [University of Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-alabama) in 1966 and a [Master of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/master-of-arts) degree from Rutgers University in 1967.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1971.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, Smith served as a law clerk to Judge Frank H. McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama from 1971 to 1972.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> He then entered private practice in [Huntsville, Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/huntsville-alabama), from 1972 to 1981, while also serving as a lecturer in political science at the University of Alabama from 1972 to 1976.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> In 1981, he became a judge on the Alabama District Court for Madison County, and later that year he became a judge on the Alabama Circuit Court for the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, where he served until 1995.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident William J. Clinton nominated Smith to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on December 8, 1995, to a seat vacated by E.B. Haltom, Jr.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> The Senate confirmed him by voice vote on December 22, 1995, and he received his commission on December 26, 1995.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup> He served as a full-time district judge until assuming senior status on August 31, 2013, and continues to serve on the court in that capacity.<sup>[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://cm.hsvchamber.org/list/member/judge-c-lynwood-smith-jr-2038)</sup>\n\n## Other activities\n\nSmith has served as a trustee of the Alabama Department of Archives and History and as a director of the Friends of Alabama Heritage Magazine Foundation.<sup>[3](https://storage.courtlistener.com/us/federal/judicial/financial-disclosures/3002/charles-lynwood-smith-jr-disclosure.2020.pdf)</sup> He has also participated in community events in the Huntsville area, including the P.R.O.P.E.L. Entrepreneur Summit.<sup>[1](https://cm.hsvchamber.org/list/member/judge-c-lynwood-smith-jr-2038)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Judge C. Lynwood Smith, Jr., Huntsville/Madison County Chamber](https://cm.hsvchamber.org/list/member/judge-c-lynwood-smith-jr-2038)\n2. [Federal Judicial Center, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Charles Lynwood Smith, Jr.](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1387931)\n3. [Charles Lynwood Smith, Jr., Financial Disclosure Report, 2020](https://storage.courtlistener.com/us/federal/judicial/financial-disclosures/3002/charles-lynwood-smith-jr-disclosure.2020.pdf)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Se to Sy*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Charles L. Smith, Jr.\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/charles-l-smith-jr. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "Charles Lynwood Smith, Jr. is an American jurist serving as a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, appointed by President Clinton in 1995."
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