Lavenski Smith Tapped to Lead US Judiciary Executive Committee

Lavenski Smith, chief judge of the St. Louis-based US appeals court, is the new chair of the senior-most committee of the judiciary’s policymaking body after his appointment by Chief Justice John Roberts.

Smith began the role on Oct. 1 and replaces US District Judge Claire Eagan as chair of the Judicial Conference’s Executive Committee, a spokesman for the Administrative Office of the US Courts said Wednesday.

Smith has served on the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit since 2002. He was appointed by George W. Bush.

The Judicial Conference is responsible for considering policy changes for the third ...