<img width="235" height="265" alt="DBrooksSmith235px" src="/site/files/oldnewsfiles/DBrooksSmith235px.jpg" class="FloatRight">The <a href="/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherHarrisburgOrganizations/FederalistsSociety.aspx">Federalist Society</a> on Widener Law’s Harrisburg campus hosted a lecture by the Honorable D. Brooks Smith of the 3rd Circuit on Wednesday, October 19. <br><br>Following a reception at 4:30 p.m., Judge Smith spoke at 5 p.m. Students, faculty, and area attorneys attended the event, which offered one CLE credit.<br><br>Judge Smith spoke on a variety of topics during the lecture, including the current state of inferior judges under Article III of the Constitution. He pointed out that inferior judges are not seeing as many civil cases as they use to, and that they are seeing instead an increase in gun and drug-related cases on the federal docket.<br><br>Judge Smith also pointed out the severe lack of court space and resources that the federal judiciary is facing. He observed that the Harrisburg Federal Courthouse project has been delayed for 20 or so years because of this hardship.<br><br>President George W. Bush nominated D. Brooks Smith to the Third Circuit on September 10, 2001 to fill the seat vacated by Judge Timothy K. Lewis, and he was confirmed on July 31, 2002. Smith previously served as a judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania from 1988 to 2001. He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall and the Dickinson School of Law.