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Patricia Campbell-Smith is now the first African-American to be appointed as Chief Judge for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. President Barack Obama appointed Judge Campbell-Smith to the position one month after she was appointed to judge to the same court.

The newly appointed judge has a long, impressive history of service with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. She served as special master to the court for six years then as Chief Master for another two. She was responsible for the court orders on the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Judge Campbell-Smith originally hails from the law firm of Liskow & Lewis in New Orleans, where she practiced from 1993 to 1996, then again from 1997 to 1998. She also served as clerk for several judges while advancing in the court system. Campbell-Smith received her undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Duke University in 1987 and is a 1992 honors graduate of Tulane Law School.

While she has served in many different areas of law, including environmental regulatory law, patent infringement litigation, and toxic tort litigation, Judge Campbell-Smith has served pro-bono, representing children in adoption proceedings in New Orleans, LA. The judge will soon begin serving her 15-year term as designated by the U.S Court of Federal Claims system.