Norman Randy Smith
How Judge Smith rules, drawn from 37 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Smith decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Begins with the governing text and reads undefined terms in the context and purpose of the larger statutory or guidelines scheme.
“we interpret the term ‘arrest’ to require that the individual be formally arrested”
Requires trial courts to perform the reliability analysis assigned to them before expert evidence reaches a jury.
“The district court failed to make findings of relevancy and reliability before admitting into evidence the expert testimony of Mr. Cohen and Dr. Millette”
Procedural preferences
Leaves fact-intensive party-specific questions for the trial court to resolve in the first instance.
“Determining an employee’s reason for departing is a factual inquiry better suited for district courts.”
Treats exhaustion as an important prerequisite when comity and institutional competence favor initial review by another tribunal.
“We, therefore, decline to assume jurisdiction over Alvarez’s claims.”
Cautions
Applies jurisdictional limits even when the resulting hardship is apparent.
“Although we are sympathetic to the hardships resulting from de Rincon’s subsequent removal from this country, § 1252(e) does not allow us to indulge those sympathies.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“We lack jurisdiction over her consolidated appeal and, accordingly, must dismiss.”
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