John Richard Smoak, Jr.

Infobox Judge
name = John Richard Smoak, Jr.

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office = Judge on the
United States District Court
termstart = 2005
termend = Present
nominator = George W. Bush
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birthdate = 1943
birthplace = Columbus, Georgia
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John Richard Smoak, Jr. is a U.S. District Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. He was born in Columbus, Georgia in 1943.

John Smoak received his Bachelors degree from the U.S. Military Academy, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. From 1965 - 1970 he served in the U.S. Army. [http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/smoakresume.htm]

As of April 2008, Judge Smoak mainly hears cases in the Federal District Court in downtown Panama City, Florida. In 2008 Smoak ruled students of public school have the right to wear gay pride T-shirts and pins. This ruling came after a Florida principal suspended many students for wear such items. [cite web |url=http://www.pinke.biz/news/314/Florida-Community-Rallies-in-Support-of-Anti-Gay-Principal/ |title=Florida Community Rallies in Support of Anti-Gay Principal |accessdate=2008-08-21 |work= |publisher=pinke.biz |date= ] Smoak also ordered the school to notify, in writing, all high school and middle school students that they possess this right. [cite web |url=http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/18908894.html |title=Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Gay Rights Expression |accessdate=2008-08-21 |work= |publisher=WJHG.com |date= ]

References

External links

* [http://www.uff.ufl.edu/scholarships/ScholarshipInfo.asp?ScholarshipFund=001173 John Smoak memorial fund at UF]