Steven Wayne Smith

Steven Wayne Smith (born October 26, 1961) is a Republican former Texas Supreme Court justice, who was defeated for renomination in 2004 through the active opposition of then-Governor Rick Perry. He was unseated by Paul W. Green. Smith again lost – very narrowly – a bid for nomination to the court in the March 7, 2006, GOP primary, when Perry again opposed his candidacy.

Smith served on the Texas high court from November 2002 through January 2005.

A fifth-generation Texan, Smith graduated from Everman High School, which is located in south Tarrant County. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where he received a bachelor of business administration degree in finance, the first member of his extended family to have graduated from college. Smith attended the University of Texas Law School, where he concentrated on federal law. He graduated with honors in 1986.

After graduation, Smith worked as a bill analyst for the Texas Senate and as a staff attorney, first for the Office of the Texas Secretary of State and then for the Texas Legislative Council. He spent three years at the legislative council and worked on redistricting issues and judicial selection. There, he met his wife, the former Susan Hunter, who was also on the legal staff.

"My judicial philosophy probably comes as much from working at the legislature as from anything. ... I developed a real appreciation for what goes into making public policy. The legislature is the policy-making branch. Courts should defer to the legislature, unless there's a clear constitutional reason" otherwise, said Smith.

While he was on the Supreme Court, Smith authored 16 published opinions, including the court's landmark decision in ''Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services v. Mega Child Care''. His work was lauded by then Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson. Provided by Wikipedia