Charles Smith

Former Judge of the Iowa District Court

Charles Smith

Former Judge of the Iowa District Court

EDUCATION

Undergraduate

Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, California (1964-65)

Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska (1965-67). No degree awarded,
entered Law School after 3 years undergraduate with special permission of Law School Dean.

Law School

Creighton University College of Law, Omaha, Nebraska, (1967-70), J.D. awarded May 30; 1970

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

2014-present

Mediation practice. Experienced neutral focusing on civil mediation of pending litigation.

Member of Iowa Arbitrators, an entity that facilitates the engagement of experienced neutrals to resolve disputes through arbitration.

2010-2013

INTERNATIONAL JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2010: Seconded by United States Department of State to the European Union’s Rule of Law Mission to Kosovo (EULEX *) as as Trial Judge in the District of Mitrovice, (the northern conflict area of Kosovo). Presided in many trials of criminal acts including murder, rape, human and drug trafficking, and war crimes.
  • October 1, 2010 – January 9, 2012: selected and served as Vice President of the Assembly of EULEX Judges (Deputy Chief Judge of International Judges Unit) November 9, 2012 – November 9, 2013: selected and served as President of Assembly of EULEX Judges (Chief Judge of International Judges unit of fifty international Judges and one hundred staff members).
  • During the 27 months of tenure as Vice President and as President of the EULEX (International) Judges also served as Judge of the Supreme Court of Kosovo. In addition to normal appellate duties, served as mentor and advisor to President of the Kosovo Supreme Court and as advisor to Chair of the Kosovo Judicial Council.

* EULEX is the European Union’s Rule of Law Mission to Kosovo. Over 3,000 individuals (primarily Europeans) are employed in this mission to bring modern, transparent and trustworthy Judicial, Prosecutorial and Police practices to Kosovo following many years of war and devastation in that county. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia following the 1999-2000 war.

1990-2010

District Judge, Fourth Judicial District of Iowa (served as Chief Judge from 1995-2010)

1970-1989

Private practice of law with firm of Tamisiea, Tamisiea and Smith, in Missouri Valley, Iowa. General Practice of law with focus on litigation, business law, real estate, taxation, estate planning, probate and banking.

1972-1974

County Attorney of Harrison County Iowa. Chief Criminal Prosecutor for County and general counsel to the County Government on civil issues.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AWARDS, AND RECOGNITIONS

1972: Elected Harrison County Attorney
1990: Appointed to District Court Bench for Fourth Judicial District of Iowa
1995: Appointed Chief Judge of Fourth Judicial District by Iowa Supreme Clourt
2010: Seconded by United States State Department to European Union’s Rule of Law Mission to Kosovo (EULEX) to serve as trial judge
2010: Selected by EULEX as Vice President of International Judges Unit
2012: Selected by EULEX as President of International Judges Unit