FIRE welcomes new legal intern Isaac Smith

We’re excited to announce that Isaac Smith has joined FIRE as a legal intern!

Isaac just completed his second year of law school at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and is beginning a joint J.D./M.A. degree in political science in the fall. His current research interests lie in judicial politics and the way actors in the judicial system are motivated to make decisions.

Isaac is from Athens, Ohio, a small college town that is home to his undergraduate institution, Ohio University, where he studied political science and Spanish. While at OU, Isaac was Associate Director of Students Defending Students, a student organization that assists students accused of violating the school’s Code of Conduct.

Isaac was also a Stand Up For Speech Litigation Project plaintiff. His successful 2014 lawsuit against OU resulted in a settlement that included revisions to the school’s Code of Conduct. That experience reaffirmed his desire to go to law school with the hope of practicing First Amendment law after graduation.

In law school, Isaac has worked as a clerk to the amicus committee of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and as a clerk helping to successfully litigate a First Amendment/criminal defense case in which a group of OU students were arrested for protesting in their own student center. He is also working to convene a formal group of advisers for the University of Cincinnati’s student conduct process, and working with the student conduct office to make UC a “green light” school.

In his spare time, he enjoys searching for the perfect Cubano cappuccino, watching 30 Rock and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia on Netflix, and advocating for better public transportation in Greater Cincinnati.

Please join us in welcoming Isaac to FIRE!