Jesse Smith joined the Trial Unit of the Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in June 2023.  Prior to joining, he spent 13 years at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, where he represented indigent defendants in matters ranging from DUI and drug possession to jury trials on major sex offenses, robbery and firearm offenses.  Mr. Smith concentrated his last few years at the office on representing children charged with crimes. He served as Assistant Chief of the Children & Youth Justice Unit and as a trial attorney in the Juvenile Special Defense Unit representing children being charged as adults.  In addition to his criminal defense work, Mr. Smith spent several years at an insurance defense firm representing business clients in product liability and toxic tort matters.

Mr. Smith earned his undergraduate degree from Hampton University and his law degree from Western Michigan University - Cooley Law School.