FEATURE: Smith is first Antigua and Barbuda citizen to be part of legal team appearing before the US Supreme Court

A citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, William “Trey” Smith III, of Cedar
Valley, has made history as the first Antigua and Barbuda citizen to
participate in a case before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Smith, 28, was part of a pro bono team of lawyers from the leading
national firm Troutman Pepper, who represented James Rudisill, a
decorated US Army veteran who had served three times between
2000 and 2011.

Oral arguments in the case, Rudisill v. McDonough, were heard on
November 8.

Rudisill has claimed entitlement to educational benefits under two
separate veterans’ programmes.

However, the Department of Veterans Affairs – the federal agency
that administers veterans’ benefits – took the position that the
applicable statutes require Rudisill to forfeit a significant portion of
his benefits.

More than a million veterans like Rudisill are affected by the
Department’s position, and billions of dollars’ worth of education
benefits are at stake.
 
Reportedly, the Court – the highest in the United States – appeared
ready to side with Rudisill, with Chief Justice Roberts referring to
the government’s position as a “raw deal” for veterans.
 
Smith, who was called to the Virginia bar last year, became involved
with the case during his first weeks practicing law.

“I got involved … last year, when the case was before the Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit,” Smith says. “My mentor, Tim
McHugh, asked me if I wanted to help him prepare for arguments in
an upcoming case. I had no idea we would end up before the
Supreme Court a year later!” he adds.
 
Smith tells the media “it was surreal and humbling to sit before the
justices and watch them interact with our arguments.” He adds that
he is “incredibly blessed to learn from [his] talented, hard-working
colleagues” who led the litigation effort on Rudisill’s behalf.
 
“My favourite part of this case was getting to know Mr. Rudisill, who
is not only entitled to his benefits under law, but is also incredibly
deserving of them,” the young attorney says.
 
In the meantime, he hopes the Supreme Court will issue a decision
in the coming months.

Smith is the son of William Smith and Marie-Elena John, who,
herself, made history in 1986 by being the first black female
valedictorian of City College in the City University of New York
system.

Young Smith graduated from the University of Virginia with a
Bachelor’s degree in politics in 2018, and from Washington and Lee
School of Law in 2021. He now practices regulatory law at
Troutman Pepper. 

In his earlier years he was a student of the St. Andrews Primary
School, St. Joseph’s Academy, and Island Academy.

He represented Antigua as a swimmer at the Commonwealth Youth
Games and then captained the swim team at Connecticut’s Kent
School – where he completed high school – to a regional
championship during his senior year.

REAL News congratulates Smith and his family on his achievement.