Trustee Liz Smith to chair judicial selection panel

'Berg Trustee Elizabeth Smith, ’81, has been appointed by U.S. Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown to chair the Bipartisan Judiciary Advisory Commission that will assist them in identifying the best candidates to fill vacancies on the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern districts. The Northern District has court locations in Akron, Cleveland, Toledo and Youngstown and serves approximately 5.9 million citizens of the 40 northernmost counties in Ohio. The Southern District has court locations in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton and serves more than 5 million Ohioans in 48 counties.

The 28-member bipartisan advisory commission process was first established by Brown and former U.S. Sen. George Voinovich; Portman and Brown have carried on the tradition.

The senators accepted and reviewed applications for the commission earlier this year. The process yielded a strong field of candidates to serve on the commission, and the senators are confident the commissioners they selected will provide informed and constructive counsel in choosing Ohio’s federal judges.

The President of the United States nominates U.S. district court judges based on recommendations from U.S. senators. Nominees must then be confirmed by the full U.S. Senate. Federal district courts are general trial courts that hear both civil and criminal cases.

Liz is a partner at the Columbus law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP and has served on the Board of Trustees since 1999.