William Bruce Smith
William Bruce Smith
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
Lawyers answering a Ledger survey on judges generally commented that Circuit Judge William Bruce Smith is doing well in a tough job.
He ranked sixth among 28 circuit judges with an overall rating of 8.06 out of 10.
In 2008, his rank was fifth out of 25 circuit judges, but his overall rating was slightly lower, 7.97.
This year, his highest individual category was 8.20 for his communication ability. His lowest was 7.91 for written decisions.
Some lawyers described Smith with words like friendly, thoughtful, thorough, fair, competent and steady.
He is currently overseeing violation of probation cases. Some lawyers commented Smith is well suited to the task. "An excellent judge doing a great job in a difficult assignment," one wrote.
Another said Smith is able to show compassion for probation violators.
"Even temper, calm, good capacity for work load," a lawyer wrote.
Smith said his assignment can be monotonous, with dockets of up to 60 defendants.
"It's a grind," he said.
But the role provides some relief to criminal division judges so they don't have to deal with the cases on their already sizeable dockets, he said.
Smith said he has developed a philosophy on handling violation of probation cases, such as aiming for drug offenders to get treatment rather than take up space behind bars.
Smith, 58, earned his law degree from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala., in 1980. His legal career includes working as a lawyer specializing in divorce and criminal law for 12 years.
He was elected to the county bench in 1992 and then elected to the circuit bench in 1996.
He and his wife, Gail, live in Lakeland. He has an adult daughter from a previous marriage.
| 2010 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.06 | 7.96 | 8.20 | 7.91 | 8.19 |
Comments
Compassionate toward probation violators.
Continues to be a very good judge.
An excellent judge doing a great job in a difficult assignment - violation of probation court.
Thoughtful and thorough judge.
Even temper, calm, good capacity for work load.
No complaints.
Fair.
Consistently demonstrates uncommon wisdom.
Steady and friendly.
Wonderful jurist.
Competent - good natured, practical.
Overall, a good judge. He will too easily recuse himself.
Does not want to send defendants to prison, even when they have violated probation.
Just OK, not great.
Continues to be a very good judge.
An excellent judge doing a great job in a difficult assignment - violation of probation court.
Thoughtful and thorough judge.
Even temper, calm, good capacity for work load.
No complaints.
Fair.
Consistently demonstrates uncommon wisdom.
Steady and friendly.
Wonderful jurist.
Competent - good natured, practical.
Overall, a good judge. He will too easily recuse himself.
Does not want to send defendants to prison, even when they have violated probation.
Just OK, not great.
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
Lawyers answering a Ledger survey on judges generally commented that Circuit Judge William Bruce Smith is doing well in a tough job.
He ranked sixth among 28 circuit judges with an overall rating of 8.06 out of 10.
In 2008, his rank was fifth out of 25 circuit judges, but his overall rating was slightly lower, 7.97.
This year, his highest individual category was 8.20 for his communication ability. His lowest was 7.91 for written decisions.
Some lawyers described Smith with words like friendly, thoughtful, thorough, fair, competent and steady.
He is currently overseeing violation of probation cases. Some lawyers commented Smith is well suited to the task. "An excellent judge doing a great job in a difficult assignment," one wrote.
Another said Smith is able to show compassion for probation violators.
"Even temper, calm, good capacity for work load," a lawyer wrote.
Smith said his assignment can be monotonous, with dockets of up to 60 defendants.
"It's a grind," he said.
But the role provides some relief to criminal division judges so they don't have to deal with the cases on their already sizeable dockets, he said.
Smith said he has developed a philosophy on handling violation of probation cases, such as aiming for drug offenders to get treatment rather than take up space behind bars.
Smith, 58, earned his law degree from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala., in 1980. His legal career includes working as a lawyer specializing in divorce and criminal law for 12 years.
He was elected to the county bench in 1992 and then elected to the circuit bench in 1996.
He and his wife, Gail, live in Lakeland. He has an adult daughter from a previous marriage.
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By Bill Rufty
The Ledger
William Bruce Smith is considered both a highly ranked circuit judge and "just a nice guy."
He ranked fifth among the 25 sitting circuit judges. In 2006 he was ranked sixth with the same overall score that he has this year: 7.97 out of 10.
In the latest rankings, he scored highest in the category of professional conduct at 8.15 and lowest in written decisions with a 7.72.
"Has grown in the job; has guts," commented one lawyer.
"A gem of a judge; prompt, courteous and fair," "Courteous to all; very knowledgeable," other lawyers said.
Of 21 lawyers who chose to write comments, four were negative.
One said "Not seeing Bruce at Bar functions; needs to work on this."
"Yes, I wouldn't disagree. I probably should spend more time on Bar activities," Smith said.
While several lawyers mentioned his politeness, one complained he did not put people at ease.
"That one baffles me," said Smith, who has returned to the criminal bench after handling civil cases. "In all these years, I have never had that comment. I try to put people at ease because most of time, especially in civil, when people come before the circuit it is usually their first time in court.''
Smith, 56, was born and raised in Plant City. He received his bachelor's degree in 1974 from Birmingham Southern College in Alabama and his law degree from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham in 1980.
He was a lawyer in Polk County specializing in divorce and criminal law for 12 years. In 1992, he was elected as a Polk County judge. In 1996, he was elected to the circuit bench and re-elected in 2002. He is up for election this year.
Smith and his wife, Gail, live in Lakeland. He has an adult daughter from a previous marriage who lives in Seattle.
| 2008 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.97 | 7.87 | 8.12 | 7.72 | 8.15 |
Comments
William Bruce Smith
A gem of a judge; prompt, courteous, and fair.
Courteous to all; very knowledgeable.
Excellent judge, especially in family/domestic.
Fine judge and man.
Good all around judge.
Has grown in the job, has guts.
He does not put people at ease at all; that could use some work; needs to listen more
He's a great judge even when I disagree with him.
Inconsistent.
Judge Smith creates a warm atmosphere in which the attorneys are free to effectively argue the merits of their
cases.
His patience and understanding on the bench are unmatched.
Marginal.
Not seeing Bruce at bar functions; needs to work on this.
So happy he's back on criminal bench; very polite.
Sometimes can be slow to rule.
Very sharp.
A gem of a judge; prompt, courteous, and fair.
Courteous to all; very knowledgeable.
Excellent judge, especially in family/domestic.
Fine judge and man.
Good all around judge.
Has grown in the job, has guts.
He does not put people at ease at all; that could use some work; needs to listen more
He's a great judge even when I disagree with him.
Inconsistent.
Judge Smith creates a warm atmosphere in which the attorneys are free to effectively argue the merits of their
cases.
His patience and understanding on the bench are unmatched.
Marginal.
Not seeing Bruce at bar functions; needs to work on this.
So happy he's back on criminal bench; very polite.
Sometimes can be slow to rule.
Very sharp.
Article
By Bill Rufty
The Ledger
William Bruce Smith is considered both a highly ranked circuit judge and "just a nice guy."
He ranked fifth among the 25 sitting circuit judges. In 2006 he was ranked sixth with the same overall score that he has this year: 7.97 out of 10.
In the latest rankings, he scored highest in the category of professional conduct at 8.15 and lowest in written decisions with a 7.72.
"Has grown in the job; has guts," commented one lawyer.
"A gem of a judge; prompt, courteous and fair," "Courteous to all; very knowledgeable," other lawyers said.
Of 21 lawyers who chose to write comments, four were negative.
One said "Not seeing Bruce at Bar functions; needs to work on this."
"Yes, I wouldn't disagree. I probably should spend more time on Bar activities," Smith said.
While several lawyers mentioned his politeness, one complained he did not put people at ease.
"That one baffles me," said Smith, who has returned to the criminal bench after handling civil cases. "In all these years, I have never had that comment. I try to put people at ease because most of time, especially in civil, when people come before the circuit it is usually their first time in court.''
Smith, 56, was born and raised in Plant City. He received his bachelor's degree in 1974 from Birmingham Southern College in Alabama and his law degree from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham in 1980.
He was a lawyer in Polk County specializing in divorce and criminal law for 12 years. In 1992, he was elected as a Polk County judge. In 1996, he was elected to the circuit bench and re-elected in 2002. He is up for election this year.
Smith and his wife, Gail, live in Lakeland. He has an adult daughter from a previous marriage who lives in Seattle.