Catherine Wright Smith (shareholder)

Of Catherine's appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court in Troxel v. Granville, Slate magazine's correspondent reported, "She is one of the finest oral advocates I have ever seen." – Dahlia Lithwick, Slate Magazine

"The lawyer for the parents, Catherine Smith, gave exceptional argument. She was relaxed, self-assured, and very effective. Smith handled the intense give-and-take with the justices as casually as though she were sitting down to a boisterous family dinner. It was clear that the key to Smith's persuasiveness was the conviction with which she spoke. She stuck to her guns like Annie Oakley." – ABA Litigation Magazine

"The attorney for the mother was articulate and well-prepared." – AAML Report on Troxel Argument

Experience

• Smith Goodfriend, P.S.
  • Shareholder in the firm since September 1984. Extensive appellate litigation practice, providing representation in over 500 cases in all three divisions of the Court of Appeals, the Washington State Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Trial practice limited to appeal-related matters.
• Judicial Clerk, Hon. Charles Horowitz, Washington State Supreme Court
  • Responsible for drafting prehearing memoranda and preliminary drafts of opinions in cases assigned to Justice Horowitz.
• Clerk, Professor Robert H. Aronson, University of Washington School of Law
  • Roberts, Shefelman, Lawrence, Gay & Moch; Attorney General's Division, University of Washington
• Copy Editor, Sunday Oklahoman and Oklahoma City Times

Education

• J.D., University of Washington, with honors
  • Managing Editor, Washington Law Review
• B.S., Oklahoma State University, magna cum laude
  • Completing social science degree with emphasis in journalism and political science in 2-1/2 years.

Bar Admissions

State of Washington; United States Supreme Court; United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; United States District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington

Appellate Activities

• Fellow, Director, President (2007-08), American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
• Founder and former President (2000-2002), Washington Appellate Lawyers Association
• Editor-in-chief, Washington State Bar Association, Appellate Practice Deskbook (2nd Edition Supplement, 1998 through 4th Edition)
• Elected Member, American Law Institute; ; Adviser for Restatement, Children and the Law
• Member, Washington Ethical Judicial Campaign Committee (2008-Present)
• Chosen for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers of America" and "Washington Superlawyers" (top 100 attorneys; top 50 women lawyers) over past several years
• Author, Civil Appellate Practice chapter, Washington Lawyers Practice Manual
• Author and Editor, Washington Health Care Professional Liability Handbook
• Editor, Appellate Practice Chapter, WSBA Family Law Deskbook
• Director, Friends of Cooper Island
• Adjunct Professor, UW School of Law, Family Law (2002), Appellate Advocacy (1994-95)
• 2001 Lawyer of the Year, Family Law Section, Washington State Bar Association 
• Advisory Committee, Office of Public Defense (1995-2011)
• Washington Environmental Council Legal Committee (1990-1997)
• Northwest Women's Law Center Legislative Committee (1998-2001)
• Vice-chair, Appellate Practice Section, Federal Bar Association (1995-1996)
• Board of Directors, Washington Appellate Defender Association (1989-1995)
• WSBA Rules Committee (Appellate Rules Revision Cycle) (1992-1995, 1997)
• Chair, KCBA Judiciary & Courts Committee (1989-1990)
• Supreme Court Model Local Rules Coordinating Committee (1990-1993)
• Co-chair, WACDL Amicus Committee (1988-1992)

Recent/Selected Speaking Engagements

APPELLATE LAW

• Top Ten Do’s and Don’ts: Legal Lunchbox CLE, Washington State Bar Association, 2021
• Remote Argument Best Practices, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, 2020
• Winning on Appeal: Rules, Strategy, and Advocacy, Chair for Appellate Practice Seminar, Washington State Bar Association, 2020, 2016, 2010, 2006, 2005, 2002
• Cutting Edge Conversations with the Appellate Court and Practitioners, Division II, Washington Appellate Lawyers Association, and Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, 2019
• Appeals, Snohomish County, Clark County, Clallam County, Snohomish County, Skagit County, 2000-2019
• Appeals in Washington: Judges & Lawyers in Conversation, Seattle University School of Law, 2016
• Readmission Program, Washington State Bar Association, 2012
• Through the Years-Important Washington Cases, Washington Courts Historical Society, 2009
• Anatomy of an Appeal, King County Bar Association, 2005
• The View From the Podium, Appellate Judges Conference, Leavenworth, 2003
• Washington Appellate Practice, California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, San Francisco, 2003
• Panel on Appellate Decision-Making, 21st Annual Chief Judges Seminar, ABA, 2000

FAMILY LAW

• Family Law Mid-Year Hot Topics, King County Bar Association, 2007-2020
• WA AFCC Conference, 2019, 2012
• Blockbuster Family Law Appeals, Snohomish County, 2019
• Family Law Section Midyear Conference, Washington State Bar Association, 2016
• Family Law, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2012, 2011
• Mary H. Wechsler Family Law Symposium for The King County Bench, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2012
• Community Property, Washington State Bar Association, 2011
• Tough Talk with Family Law Clients, Washington State Bar Association, 2010
• Grandparent/Third Party Visitation and Custody Update, National Association of Counsel for Children, 2004
• Intermediate to Advanced Family Law Conference, Washington State Bar Association, 2004
• Legally Bound 2: Relocation Under the New Act, co-chair, King County Bar Association, 2003.
• Third Party Visitation Post-Troxel, AFCC, Kona, Hawaii, 2002
• Appellate Trends in Domestic Relations, Spring State Judicial Conference, 2002

INSURANCE LAW

• Appellate Advocacy Seminar, DRI The Voice of the Defense Bar, Phoenix, AZ, 2016
• Insurance Law, Washington State Bar Association, 2011-2013
• Late Tenders, the Duty to Defend and an Insurer’s Ability to Recoup Defense Costs After Immunex, Northwest Insurance Coverage Association, 2013
• Insurance Law, Washington State Association for Justice, 2011

LEGAL ETHICS

• Law of Lawyering, Washington State Bar Association, 2016, 2011-2013
• Ethics Workout, King County Bar Association, 2014