Brian J Smith | Criminal Defense Attorney

01/09/2026

My fondest wish would be to take Tina and get the hell out of this country for good.

03/17/2023

https://apple.news/AplYZhi3cSIaej647BneZoA

Carter was sentenced to 12 months of probation, along with a $1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service, after the deaths of his teammate Devin Willock and team staff member Chandler LeCroy

10/14/2022

I want to say something about this. The parents of some of the victims are reportedly outraged that Cruz will not be put to death, but rather will be sentenced to life without parole. My heart goes out to those people whose children were slaughtered by Cruz.
Yet, when it comes to the death penalty, those who know me know that I am an abolitionist; I do not believe in capital punishment under any circumstances: not for Nikolas Cruz, not for Timothy McVeigh, nor for Adolf Eichmann.
My position is not a popular one. It is not only conceivable but also very likely that some will be repulsed or even enraged by my opinions. So be it. I only ask that people try to understand that my position is the result of long periods of reflection, preceded by the influence of my religious upbringing, my own cultural awareness, and reading some very influential writers.
As far as I can ascertain, the only purpose the death penalty serves is to give some sense of psychic retribution to the surviving family members, which, from what I’ve gathered, is short-lived.
Back in the mid-90s I was an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, New York. I remember one conversation I had with the D.A. In his office. Although he was personally opposed to the death penalty, he said he would enforce it because the law called for it, under certain circumstances. He was of the opinion that life without parole was a far worse punishment than death. And anyone who has ever been inside a prison would probably understand that. The death penalty,he said, “was quick”, as he snapped his fingers.
For one as young as Nikolas Cruz, his punishment will be anything but quick.

Nikolas Cruz will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the February 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.