ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Natasha
I was born and raised in North Philadelphia. Raised by a single teenage mother, I grew up in an environment knowing that true justice should be afforded to everyone irrespective of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or zip code. I have devoted my career to fighting for the rights of people in my community.
A graduate of the 248th class at Central High School, I went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hampton University in Virginia where I also developed leadership skills in the Army R.O.T.C.
Following graduation, I worked in Human Resources full-time while attending the Temple University School of Law in the evenings transitioning to full-time study in my second year. At Temple, I was awarded the Barrister's Award and the award for Outstanding Oral Advocacy. My commitment to community service began as a law student with internships with the Temple Family Law Clinic, the Federal Defender Capital Habeas Unit, and the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
A THRIVING CAREER
I began my law career as a Philadelphia Public Defender where I worked defending men, women, and children who did not have the resources to pay an attorney. I successfully litigated nearly 100 jury trials and hundreds of non-jury trials. This experience cemented my commitment to fight for equity, fairness, and justice for all citizens.
After almost 9 years as a Defender, I opened my own firm practicing in the areas of criminal, family, and personal injury law. I was awarded the Pro Bono Honor Roll Award in successive years. After 8 years in private practice, I returned to public service as a county solicitor representing a Human Services cabinet including the defense of the Montgomery County Register of Wills who issued the first Marriage Certificate to a same-sex couple in the Commonwealth.
In 2017, I returned to my roots as a public defender, representing indigent clients in the Federal Courts. As a Federal Defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Natasha continued to rail against mass incarceration. There I was a founding member of the Relapse Prevention Court team – a court designed to assist returning individuals with obtaining and maintaining their sobriety after severe drug addictions. I also litigated and obtained the first opinion from the federal bench in the EDPA, restricting the participation of the Department of Justice in prosecuting the legitimate use of medical marijuana by individuals under supervision in the district.
IN THE COMMUNITY
I am active in the community. I am a 25-year member of the Philadelphia Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, in addition to my membership with the Philadelphia Chapter of the Hampton University Alumni Association. I belong to Salem Baptist Church of Roslyn, where she served on the Board of Activities, Feeding the Homeless ministry, and the Parent’s Board of the Celestial/Cecilian Choir. I am a member of the NAACP and previously served as the Chair of the WIN (Women in the NAACP) committee. I coached Little League Softball and served on the Board of the Mt. Airy Bantams Youth Football Association. Additionally, I served on the Board of Directors of Genesis II, a drug and alcohol facility for women with their children.
I am a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Federal Law Committee for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Barrister’s Association, and the National Bar Association – Women’s Law Division, where I served on the Professional Development committee. I also serve as an adjunct faculty member at Beasley School of Law at Temple University in the Integrated Trial Advocacy program.
I am married to James Smith and raised four children - two sons, a daughter, and my cousin who joined my immediate family through the Philadelphia Dependency court system.