About Jonathan
Jonathan Hodge moved from chemical engineering into law. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University, recorded as a 1994 degree, and later completed a Juris Doctor at the University of Dayton School of Law in 2002. The switch from a technical undergraduate degree to legal training shaped an approach that blends methodical analysis with courtroom practice.
He began his legal training at Dayton, where coursework and clinical experience placed him squarely in the practical side of law. After law school he gained admission to multiple courts. His admissions include the Kentucky state bar, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and its bankruptcy court, the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and its bankruptcy court, as well as the Sixth and Seventh Circuit courts of appeals. Those credentials allow him to handle matters across trial and appellate federal forums in the region.
Hodge practices at Hodge & Smither, PLLC. At the firm he handles litigation and bankruptcy matters that come before state and federal judges. He represents clients in contested proceedings, appears at hearings, and files appeals when cases move beyond the trial level. His courtroom work regularly involves procedural filings and oral advocacy in district courts and bankruptcy courts.
His engineering background informs how he approaches complex case files. He is comfortable reviewing technical reports, parsing expert testimony, and working through detailed evidentiary records. That technical fluency does not replace legal judgment, but it helps when cases raise scientific or mechanical issues that require careful scrutiny of documents and data.
Colleagues describe Hodge as methodical in preparation and straightforward in court. He tends to favor clear, concise filings and direct argumentation at hearings. He has built a practice that spans both adversary proceedings in bankruptcy and broader federal litigation. Over time he has maintained a workload that keeps him active in both trial courts and on appeal.
He remains based at Hodge & Smither, PLLC, where he continues to represent clients in bankruptcy-related matters and federal litigation in Kentucky and the surrounding federal courts.
