ABOUT ME:

POSITION/TITLE/OCCUPATION: RETIRED WORKER’S COMPENSATION JUDGE FOR JEFFERSON, PLAQUEMINES AND ST. BERNARD PARISHES (7TH DISTRICT WORKER’S COMPENSATION COURT)

CURRENT: ATTORNEY, PRIVATE PRACTICE

I am a native of Reserve and an honor graduate of Reserve Rosenwald Elementary School and Fifth Ward High School. I am a cum laude honor graduate of Dillard University, where my major was English Education. I graduated from Loyola University Law School, and also attended Southern University Law School, and a summer program at Tulane University Law School. My parents are Rita and Walter Smith. I have two children, Aspen Steib Murphy and Syrita Steib. I have three grandchildren. As an attorney, I worked for various legal services programs for the indigent, Legal Services Corporation, Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship Program, Indigent Defender Board, and Law Students Civil Rights Research Council. I worked for the Judge Advocate General and The St. John District Attorney’s Office. I am the first female African American attorney in St. John. I am active in church and community affairs.

ROLE MODELS

My role models were my parents, Rita and Walter Smith. They inspired me to be an entrepreneur, and that there were no limits to what I could achieve if I kept God and family in my life. They reinforced that a lack of financial wealth did not limit my ability to be successful. Presently, my children are my role models. Aspen’s career has been exceptional, from chemical engineering, beauty pageants, CNN, and her rewarding and philanthropic career at Marathon, and motherhood. Aspen is also the first black person to lead the River Region Chamber of Commerce and the youngest. Syrita’s career has been exceptional, from physics and engineering, medical field, and now recognition in philanthropy, reform and motherhood. God has truly blessed me to see my children succeed.

Black History Month mean to you?

All history should be inclusive of all the ethnicities. Black history is an integral part of America’s history. America is a nation of immigrants, and the American Indians are the only native Americans. I am proud that this month has been set aside to accentuate the positive, but I think that we should honor all positive contributions all the time.

Diversity?

This country has a plethora of persons with various skills and abilities. We need these diverse individuals for America to be successful. We should not try to alienate or divide this country based on race, religion, political parties, sexual orientation disability, etc. United we stand, divided we fall.

Changes

I would like to see unity in the community and jobs for local people who are qualified. I would like to envision what community leaders like Mr. Ezekiel Jackson and Mr. Edward Hall and Mr. Frank Lapeyrolerie worked for: a hospital, improved schools, local jobs for residents, adequate affordable housing for the poor and elderly.