Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-mc-80127/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-mc-80127-6/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Spencer Freeman Smith
In Re

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE MATTER OF

Spencer Freeman Smith #236587

Case No. 15-mc-80127-JD 

FURTHER ORDER RE ORDER TO 

SHOW CAUSE

Re: Dkt. No. 9

On July 27, 2016, the Court entered an order suspending Smith’s membership in the bar of

the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Dkt. No. 8. The order 

terminated Smith’s performance or appearance as legal counsel in any case in this District. 

On August 10, 2016, the Court issued an order directing Smith “to show cause why the 

Court should not impose sanctions for his failure to withdraw from each active case in which he 

has appeared as counsel.” Dkt. No. 9. The Court noted that Smith continued “to be counsel of 

record in cases in this District, including Mitchell v. San Francisco, Case No. 3:15-cv-00440-

CRB.” Id. 

Smith filed a response to the Court’s order on August 15, 2016, advising the Court that he 

was unaware of the fact that he was still a counsel of record in the Mitchell case, and representing 

that once he “discovered this error, [he] immediately filed a notice of change in counsel” in that 

case. Dkt. No. 10. 

The Court has, however, discovered yet another active case in this District in which Smith 

continues to appear as a counsel of record. It is Cortes v. County of Santa Clara, Case No. 5:11-

cv-03645-EJD. 

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Case 3:15-mc-80127-JD Document 11 Filed 08/26/16 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

It is the Court’s view that Smith is not being forthright, and this is exacerbating the 

underlying disciplinary issues in this matter. Smith is ordered to file by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 

August 30, 2016, a declaration under penalty of perjury that lists each and every active case in this 

District in which Smith is currently listed as a counsel of record, along with a confirmation that he 

has withdrawn from each and every one of those cases. 

To be clear, Smith is not authorized to practice law in this District, and continuing to 

appear as a counsel of record in any active case is a flagrant violation of the Court’s order of 

suspension. Any further gamesmanship on Smith’s part will result in a referral for permanent 

disbarment.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 26, 2016

______________________________________

JAMES DONATO

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-mc-80127-JD Document 11 Filed 08/26/16 Page 2 of 2