Hoodline: Justin Smith Confirmed To Eighth Circuit Court
This excerpt is from a piece that originally ran on June 16, 2026.
Smith, a co-owner of the James Otis Law Group, has represented Trump in multiple high-profile matters and serves as counsel on appeals tied to the E. Jean Carroll cases. The Alliance for Justice says Smith “played a central role in the case, taking primary responsibility for drafting the merits briefs and leading the preparation for oral argument,” and the group has warned that his record could foreshadow rulings that reshape voting, civil-rights and reproductive-rights law.
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Civil-rights groups and Senate Democrats say they plan to keep a close eye on Smith’s opinions, arguing that his presence on the bench could cement significant legal shifts for years to come. The Alliance for Justice has urged observers to watch how he votes in cases that sweep across the Eighth Circuit’s seven-state jurisdiction.