Stephen W. Smith
Judge Smith no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Smith decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
At summary judgment he required concrete evidence rather than an unexplained corporate decision process before accepting a nondiscriminatory compensation rationale.
“the employer’s articulated reason here ‘is at least as consistent with discriminatory intent as it is with nondiscriminatory intent.’”
In privacy-sensitive surveillance matters, he narrowed authorized collection to the demonstrated investigative need even when binding circuit law permitted access.
“For that very reason, I have reduced the relevant time window here from one hour to ten minutes.”
Procedural preferences
Smith treated intrusive digital searches as requiring exact compliance with territorial, particularity, and minimization rules even when the investigative technique was novel.
“the extremely intrusive nature of such a search requires careful adherence to the strictures of Rule 41 as currently written”
He resisted litigation delays that would duplicate ordinary federal discovery without advancing Rule 1's just, speedy, and inexpensive resolution mandate.
“No just or worthwhile purpose would be served by suspending these proceedings to allow Underwriters to take a belated and unneeded out-of-court deposition.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“It is therefore ORDERED that the defendant is committed to the custody of the Attorney General or his designated representative”
“For all these reasons, Wal-Mart’s motion for summary judgment is denied in all respects.”
“In three separate criminal investigations earlier this month, this court denied the Government’s request under the Stored Communications Act (SCA) to compel cell phone service providers to produce cell site information for target cell phones.”
“Accordingly, it is recommended that the Government’s motion for involuntary medication be denied.”
“ORDERED that the City of Pasadena’s motion for summary judgment (Dkt.12) is denied.”
“granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff Dr. Lydia Conlay’s defamation and gender discrimination claims, and denying the motion on her Title VII retaliation claims”
“For these reasons, it is recommended that Eni’s motion for summary judgment be granted, and Transocean’s motion be denied.”
“defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted.”
“The motion is granted in part and denied in part.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Center-Point’s motion to increase security is denied.”
“Defendants’ motion to abate (Dkt.7) is denied.”
“Price’s motion for summary judgment should be granted, and the Department’s motion denied”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The earliest 20 exact-name assigned records mix employment and civil-rights cases, Social Security appeals, FLSA, contract and maritime disputes, environmental litigation, and criminal or surveillance magistrate matters. This fixed historical slice is not representative of Smith's entire Houston docket.
A historical record
Judge Smith no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.