Born, raised, and educated in Michigan, Thomas Smith has practiced law for over 29 years, predominately in the field of criminal law. As both a prosecutor and defense counsel, he has successfully prosecuted and defended literally thousands of criminal cases, from low-level misdemeanors to life-offense felonies.

Mr. Smith began his legal career as a trial attorney in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as a Captain and Judge Advocate (defense counsel). In that capacity, he handled hundreds of felony and misdemeanor cases before members panels (juries), military judges, and Administrative Discharge Boards at Camp Pendleton, California.

After fulfilling his commitment to the Marine Corps, Mr. Smith became an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office in Lansing, Michigan, where he prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases. After his tour as an assistant prosecutor, Mr. Smith became a criminal defense counsel with The Reynolds Law Firm, P.C., a prestigious criminal defense firm in Lansing. While there, Mr. Smith successfully defended hundreds of clients charged with felonies and misdemeanors.

To further hone his research and writing skills, Mr. Smith became a Research Attorney with the Michigan Judicial Institute, a division of the Michigan Supreme Court. In that capacity, he authored and edited numerous legal Benchbooks and Monographs on substantive and procedural criminal law, including the influential Sexual Assault Benchbook (2002), the New Magistrate Traffic Adjudication Manual (2003), and various criminal procedure Monographs, which are distributed to all Michigan judges (including court staff), magistrates, prosecutors’ offices, and probation offices. Mr. Smith also published a book from his USMC experience: On Marine Culture (2018). In 2003, to take advantage of his research and writing and trial advocacy skills, Mr. Smith established his own law firm, the Smith Law Firm, P.L.L.C., which is dedicated to defending the accused in criminal and traffic matters—and in upholding the highest standards of integrity.

Finally, Mr. Smith has been actively involved in drug courts. For 12 years, he was the designated defense attorney on the Ottawa County Recovery Court (OCRC).

Practice Areas: Criminal law, Traffic law, Driver’s License Appeals

Admitted: 1991, Michigan Bar

Law School: University of Detroit, J.D., 1990

College: Michigan State University, B.A., 1983

Military: U.S. Marine Corps, Captain, Judge Advocate, 1988-1995, 1988 (Officer Candidate School), 1992 (The Basic School; Naval Justice School), 1992-1995 (Fleet Marine Force)

Member: Michigan State Bar, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Marine Corps Association

Born: Detroit, Michigan, August 14, 1961

Publications:

Author:

• On Marine Culture (2018)

• Sexual Assault Benchbook, Michigan Supreme Court (2002)

• New Magistrate Traffic Adjudication Manual, Michigan Supreme Court (2003)

• Monograph: Preliminary Examinations (Revised Edition), Michigan Supreme Court (2003)

• Monograph: Issuance of Complaints & Arrest Warrants/Issuance of Search Warrants (Revised Edition), Michigan Supreme Court (2003)

• Scientific Evidence Guide Update by Federal Judicial Center, Michigan Supreme Court Report (August 2001)

• The Frustrating Effects of Hills on Small Arms Marksmanship, Marine Corps Gazette (June 1999)

• Waving Good-Bye to Juveniles, Ingham County Briefs (April 1998)

• Professional Reading for the Profession of Violence, Marine Corps Gazette (April 1992)

• Disarming America, Michigan Out-of-Doors (January 1990)

• Hilly Hunting, Michigan Out-of-Doors (December 1989)

• Lifting the Veil—The War in Afghanistan, In Brief (October 1988)

Editor:

• Guide to Vehicle Immobilization, Michigan Supreme Court (2002)

• Monograph: Pretrial Motions (Revised Edition), Michigan Supreme Court (2001)