Stephen F. Smith

Stephen F. Smith is the Diane and M.O. Miller II Research Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame's Notre Dame Law School. He joined the faculty in 2009 after serving as the John V. Ray Research Professor at the University of Virginia and as a Visiting Professor at Notre Dame in 2008. His academic credentials include a Bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif and the Raven Society.

Professor Smith's research centers on criminal justice systems, with emphasis on:

• Criminal law theory and reform
• Constitutional constraints in criminal procedure
• Federalism's impact on criminal jurisdiction
• Capital punishment and sentencing structures
• Corporate liability in criminal contexts

His publications consistently address overcriminalization, federalization pitfalls, and constitutional criminal procedure. Recent works demonstrate a focus on corporate accountability (2022) and federal overreach in criminal law (2019), with ongoing analysis of mens rea standards and death penalty efficacy.

Honors include:

• Order of the Coif membership
• Raven Society induction

Prior professional experience includes clerking for Judge David B. Sentelle (D.C. Circuit) and Justice Clarence Thomas (U.S. Supreme Court), private practice with Sidley & Austin, and congressional counsel work.