Judge Jessica Price Smith was appointed to a 14-year term on the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio in 2011.  A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she is a graduate of Miami University where she was among the first group of students awarded the prestigious Harrison Scholarship.  She also graduated with distinction from the Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law where she was a member of the Law Review, Moot Court Board of Advocates, and was inducted into the Willis Society, the highest academic honor society at the College of Law. Judge Price Smith began her legal career as the law clerk to the Honorable Randolph Baxter, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Ohio, whom she succeeded on the bench.  She spent two years as a bankruptcy associate with the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.  And, immediately, prior to becoming a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, was engaged in the private practice of law, representing corporate debtors, creditor committees, and trade creditors in all aspects of commercial bankruptcy cases and out of court debt restructuring as a shareholder at Brouse McDowell, LPA.  She also has the distinction of being the first African-American partner in the firm’s more than 90-year history.  In addition to practicing law, Judge Price Smith was a legal studies faculty member at Ursuline College in the adult accelerated education program.
            Since her appointment to the bench, Judge Price Smith has been an active member of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges.  She currently serves the organization as chair of the Endowment Committee and as a member of the liaison committee to the National Bar Association.  In the Northern District of Ohio Bankruptcy Court, she serves as chair of the Budget Committee and as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee.  She also serves on the Attorney Admissions Fund Committee of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. In 2019, Judge Price Smith began a three year term on the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Sixth Circuit.
Judge Price Smith has balanced her professional life with service to her community as a member of various civic boards and through her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, the Drifters, Incorporated and the Western Reserve (OH) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. She and her husband Gregory Smith are the proud parents of two sons.