The Honorable Judge D. Brooks Smith visited campus on Oct. 7 to discuss the role of the courts in a democracy.
Smith served as Chief Judge of both the U.S. Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He is the only person to have held both positions.
Today, he serves as a senior judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Smith delivered the commencement address at one of SFU’s graduation ceremonies last May. Professor of Political Science Joe Melusky invited Smith back to campus earlier this month to speak about some of his professional experiences.
During the presentation, Smith emphasized that understanding the U.S. Constitution is important for all Americans.
“Too many people don’t know the basics of the Constitution,” Smith said.
Both Melusky and Smith shared concerns about how today’s polarized political climate is influencing the courts.
Melusky emphasized the importance of understanding the role of the courts in the U.S. today.
“Judge Smith’s visit and events like this have seldom, if ever, been more timely, relevant and important,” Melusky said.
Attendees were invited to a reception after the presentation, where Smith answered their questions.
Talis Marshall, a sophomore History major with a concentration in Pre-Law, said he appreciated the judge’s visit.
“It was good to hear from someone who has been in the game for quite a while,” Marshall said.
Smith’s visit to campus was sponsored by the SFU Center for the Study of Government and Law, the Department of History and Political Science and the Pre-Law and History Clubs.
