Smith served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's office from 1999 to 2003. He then was in private practice from 2003 to 2007. From 2007 to 2008, he served as a Senior Assistant City Attorney for the city of Miami Beach. Governor Charlie Crist appointed him in 2008 to preside as a judge of the Miami-Dade CountyCourt, where he served until 2012. Governor Rick Scott appointed him to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in 2012, where he served until his elevation to the federal bench in 2019.[4]
On January 3, 2019, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate. On January 23, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to renominate Smith for a federal judgeship.[9] His nomination was sent to the Senate later that day.[10] On February 7, 2019, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 17–5 vote.[11] On June 11, 2019, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 77–19 vote.[12] On June 12, 2019, his nomination was confirmed by a 78–18 vote.[13] He received his judicial commission on June 14, 2019.[14]