Stephen C. Smith

Stephen Smith is a veteran in the Maine Court system. He has been a trial lawyer for more than 23 years with a statewide practice in criminal defense, family law, personal injury and estate planning. He founded Smith Law Offices in 2000 in Bangor, Maine, and since then he has represented thousands of clients statewide. With well over 100 serious state and federal jury trials and countless bench trials under his belt, Steve fully enjoys being in the fray. Admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the First Circuit Court of Appeals and federal and state courts, Stephen has also been a longtime member of the Bar of the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy Tribal Courts and once acted as the Penobscot Tribe’s child protective attorney general.

Stephen brings a businesslike approach to his litigation practice. While always willing to listen to reason, his aggressive court room practice and willingness to go to trial account for his many legal victories and favorable results. Stephen assists clients in divorce and custody cases, homicides, sex crimes, domestic violence, abuse and drug-related charges. Early in his career, Steve took a special interest in sex crime defense and has developed significant expertise and experience in all manner of sexual assault and child molestation cases. Steve’s expertise in sex crime defense has resulted in his being a lecturer at trainings for other lawyers on the subject.

Steve practices extensively in federal courts. His federal practice includes matters such as heavy-duty drug trafficking and child pornography cases. Steve was lead counsel for the defense in only the second federal prosecution in the United States for the importation of whale tusks of the rare Narwhal whale. 

As a father of four children, Steve understands the issues confronting the families of today and he practices family law from the perspective that children need to be sheltered from the conflict inherent in divorce and separation. Child custody fights bring out the worst in some parents and if a reasonable approach won’t bring the offending parent around, Stephen is well skilled and experienced in “going to the mat.” As a business owner and developer of real estate and restaurants, Steve understands small business opportunities but also how spouses can abuse self-employment status.

His non-legal background includes a military career in the U.S. Army. After beginning as an infantryman in the 3rd Ranger Battalion he served as a machine gunner in Desert Storm. After leaving active service, he joined the Maine Army National Guard where he served as a sniper team leader in the Mountain Infantry. Following his infantry service as an NCO, Steve became one of the first direct commissioned officers in the Guard, beginning his career as an officer as an engineer platoon leader. Shortly after graduating law school, he was direct commissioned as a Judge Advocate General officer. Following the attacks of 9/11, Steve was asked to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as a military prosecutor. Steve’s deployment lasted 18 months and upon his return he saw his 3rd child for the first time. Steve retired from the army after 21 years of service. His legal expertise and long association with the military has made him an expert resource for other attorneys in issues pertaining to military divorces and pensions.

Steve has played a significant role in the revitalization of downtown Bangor; he started the New Year’s Ball Drop in the downtown area, rehabilitated three historical commercial buildings in a once blighted area and developed two successful restaurants. He runs a diversified family farm with his wife, three sons and daughter.

Areas of practice: Criminal defense, personal injury, family law, sex crime defense

Education: B.S. in International Relations, University of Maine; University of Kharkov in Kharkov, Ukraine; J.D., University of Maine School of Law

Member: Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Maine State Bar Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Knights of Columbus

Reported Cases:

Lowd v. Dimoulos, 2005 ME 19, 866 A.2d 867 (Me. 2005) 

State v. Mann, 2005 ME 25, 868 A.2d 183 (Me. 2005) 

In re Sarah C., 2040 ME 152, 864 A.2d 162 (Me. 2004) 

State v. Millay, 2004 ME 152, 787 A.2d 129 (Me. 2001) 

State v. Griffin, 814 A.2d 1003 (Me. 2003) 

State v. Connelly, Pen-CR-98-274 

Monahan v. Monahan, 2015 ME 65 

State v. Cote, 2015 ME 78 

USA v. Hawkins, 279 F.3d 83 (1st Cir. 2002) 

USA v. Gamache, 14-1546,  ____ F.3d ____ (1st Cir. 2015)