Smuraglia began studying Law in Pisa, when in 1943, with the Armistice of Cassibile, he left the University.

He refused to join the Italian Social Republic and took part instead in the Italian resistance movement joining the "Cremona" Combat Group, with which he fought against nazi-fascists from Marche to Venice, until the Surrender of Caserta in 1945.

[1] From 1986 to 1990, Smuraglia has been a member of the High Council of the Judiciary, then led by President Francesco Cossiga.

From April 2011 to November 2017, Smuraglia was elected President of the National Association of Italian Partisans.

[3] In 2016, he said that ANPI would have supported "No" in occasion of the 2016 constitutional referendum proposed by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.