Jerry E. Smith, often referred to as Jerry L. Smith in some contexts, is a senior United States circuit judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Born on November 7, 1946, in Del Rio, Texas, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University in 1969 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1972. After clerking for Judge Joe Ingraham on the Fifth Circuit and working briefly in private practice in Houston, he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and confirmed to the Fifth Circuit that same year. Smith took senior status in 2011, continuing to handle a reduced caseload while contributing to the court's conservative-leaning jurisprudence on issues ranging from civil rights to criminal procedure. Throughout his tenure, he has authored numerous influential opinions, often aligning with originalist and textualist interpretations of the Constitution, and has been involved in high-profile cases related to voting rights, environmental regulations, and First Amendment protections. Beyond the bench, he has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center and engaged in legal scholarship. As of the latest available information, he remains active in his judicial role, residing in Houston, Texas.