Charles Smith, the American judge who sentenced four former KLA leaders to 81 years in prison

The judgment of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi was read by American judge Charles L. Smith III, who presided over the trial panel in this case.

Smith was appointed as a judge at the Specialist Chambers on February 7, 2017. In addition to chairing the panel in the trial against the former KLA leaders, the American national has also held the position of vice president of this court since April 29, 2020.

His professional experience in Kosovo had begun several years before the establishment of the Specialist Chambers. Between 2010 and 2013, he worked as a judge in the European Union Rule of Law Mission, EULEX.

During this engagement, from 2011 to 2013, Smith was part of the Supreme Court of Kosovo. The biography published on the Specialist Chambers’ website shows that during that period he was initially elected vice president and later president of the EULEX Judges’ Assembly.

Before his engagement in Kosovo, Smith had built a long career within the American justice system. In 1990, he was appointed as a judge in the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District of the state of Iowa.

From 1996 to 2010, he held the position of chief judge of this district, while at the same time he was also a member of the Iowa Judicial Council.

Prior to his appointment to the judiciary, Smith worked as a private attorney during the period 1970-1989. His practice included criminal and civil cases, as well as matters in the fields of business, taxation, and inheritance.

He completed his legal education at Creighton University in the United States, where in 1970 he earned a Juris Doctor degree. That same year he became a member of the Nebraska Bar Association, and in 1971 he was admitted to the Iowa Bar Association, one of the American states most friendly to Kosovo.

Since 2014, Smith has also been engaged as an arbitrator and mediator.

At the Specialist Chambers, he has also presided over the trial panel in the case against Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, former leaders of the KLA War Veterans Organization. In addition to the post of vice president of the court, Smith also performs the function of senior judge for personnel appeals.