Ben Smith, Candidate for 380th District Court Judge, Selected for 40 Under 40

May 7, 2012 - PRLog -- McKinney, Texas (May 7, 2012)—Ben Smith,  judicial candidate for the 380th District Court in Collin County and a resident of McKinney, has been selected for the 2012 40 Under 40 award sponsored by the Collin County Business Press.

Smith most recently served in the Collin County District Attorney’s office as chief of the special prosecution division. In December 2011, he resigned his position to pursue the 380th district court judgeship and to open his own law practice.

The 40 Under 40 award brings together a group of motivated, engaged and dynamic individuals who are executives, entrepreneurs and community leaders.  Smith, along with 39 other Collin County individuals under the age of 40 will be honored at an event on Wednesday, June 6, at the Hyatt Place Garland.

“It’s an honor to be selected for 40 Under 40 and to be a part of this group,” Smith said. “We live in a vibrant and thriving community with many capable young leaders who are committed to making a difference in Collin County.”

During his career in Collin County DA’s office, Smith also served as chief felony prosecutor in the trial division, second assistant district attorney and chief of the misdemeanor division. He has tried a number of high-profile cases and was the first prosecutor in Collin County history to obtain a conviction from a jury in a mortgage fraud case. Altogether, Smith has handled more than 5,000 criminal cases and has been involved in more than 100 criminal jury trials.

The son of a career Air Force serviceman, Smith spent his childhood in his mother’s native South Korea where his father was stationed. His family also lived in Spain and Germany.  He earned both his undergraduate degree and juris doctor from Boston University.  It was during a semester abroad at Oxford University in England that Smith met his future wife Rebecca. The couple has lived in Collin County for eight years and they have two young sons. Smith is a youth mentor in the McKinney ISD’s REACH program and is actively involved in his church, Cross Road Christian Church.  Smith, who has received a number of key endorsements including that of Cathie Adams, former chairman of the Texas GOP, has been named a delegate to the state Republican convention in Fort Worth this June.

About Ben Smith, Candidate for 380th District Court Judge
Ben Smith is a McKinney resident and former chief of the special prosecution division in the Collin County District Attorney’s office where he worked for eight years. Smith is a conservative Republican and the only candidate for the 380th District Court—a death penalty court—with extensive criminal jury trial experience. He is endorsed by the Collin County Conservative Republicans, the Frisco Police Officers Association, and the McKinney Police Association, among others. He is “Tea Approved” by the North Texas Tea Party and the Texas Tea Party Alliance. Smith, a graduate of the Boston University School of Law, is also a delegate to the state Republican convention in Fort Worth this June. He and his wife Rebecca are parents to two young boys. Visit  http://www.bensmithforjudge.com for more information.