Ericka S. Smith joined the firm as an associate in March, 2011. As the daughter of Corey Rutledge and step-daughter of Kent Rutledge she worked in the firm beginning at age 15 and was worked as an errand runner, temporary secretary, file clerk, legal intern, and summer paralegal. In the summer of 1998, Ericka worked as a legal intern for the firm on Nalder v. West Park Hospital, et. al., a medical malpractice lawsuit involving birth injury. After 5 weeks of trial in the U.S. District Court in Cheyenne, the trial team got a defense verdict.
Ericka was born in Fort Collins, Colorado and has lived in Colorado and Wyoming for nearly her entire life. She attended undergraduate school at Baylor University in Waco, Texas for one year and then returned to Wyoming in 1994 to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2004, and began law school that fall. While in law school Ericka was successful in several moot court competitions, being a finalist in the Regional competition in 2000. Additionally, she was active in the Potter Law Club, the Board of Advocates and the Prosecution Assistance Clinic (PAC). While working for PAC she served as interim director while the director was on leave and submitted briefs and argued to the Wyoming Supreme Court, see Heinemann v. State, 12 P 3rd 392 (Wyo. 2000), Ramirez v. State, 994 P 2d 970 (Wyo. 2000). Ericka received the Alfred M. Pence Memorial Scholarship for likelihood of success as a Wyoming trial lawyer Ericka earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming in 2000.
After graduation from law school in May, 2000, Ericka served as a law clerk for the 1st Judicial District Court for the Honorable Edward L. Grant and Nicholas G. Kalokathis, and later the Honorable James E. Burke. She then served the State of Wyoming as both an assistant attorney general and assistant district attorney where she successfully prosecuted cases from abuse, neglect and juvenile matters to sexual assault, drug crimes and homicide. While an assistant district attorney Ericka played a key role in the Laramie County Drug Court and was involved in many community resources including the Cheyenne Meth initiative, SafeHarbor, and the Drug Free Schools Board, as well as being an adjunct professor at Laramie County Community College. Ericka was appointed by Governor Dave Freudenthal to serve on the State Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice and the Wyoming Children and Families Initiative.
Since leaving the district attorney's office and prior to joining Lathrop & Rutledge, Ericka had a diverse practice including serving as a vice president (public lands) to the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, working on land development issues for a local developer, working on grassroot education efforts for the railroad industry, and representing criminal defendants in both state and federal court. Ericka's law practice focused on criminal defense, representation of children as a Guardian ad Litem, and pro bono work for low income individuals in need of legal assistance, but she also served Wyoming as a Senior Assistant Public Defender for Platte, Goshen, Niobrara and Converse counties. During the more than 2 1/2 years as a public defender, Ericka successfully defended all of her cases that were tried to a jury.
Ericka has served the community in several capacities including work with Susan G. Komen Foundation, Laramie County Drug Court, Cheyenne Chamber Singers, The Cheyenne Meth Initiative, Black Dog Animal Rescue, Inc. and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Father Factor, and is a member of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Contestants Committee. In her free time, Ericka enjoys time with friends, family and pets, singing, being in the outdoors, rooting on her favorite sports teams and skiing, soccer and golf when her body cooperates.
Kappa Kappa Gamma. Criminal Justice Act Panel Member, U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming. Member: Cheyenne Frontier Days, Contestants Committee; Father Factor, Board of Directors, 2009—; Black Dog Animal Rescue, Board of Directors, 2009-2011; Cheyenne Chamber Singers, 2004-2005.
