Mr. Smith was born in Macon, Georgia, and attended the public schools there, graduating from the Walter F. George School of Law. He was admitted to practice law in 1977 and has resided in Dublin, Georgia, for the past 38 years. He and his wife, Annette, have two adult children and attend First United Methodist Church in Dublin, Georgia.
He worked his way both through undergraduate school and graduated from Mercer University in 1973 and thereafter attended law school. He obtained his Jurist Doctor Degree from the Walter F. George School of Law in June of 1977.
Mr. Smith has practiced law in the public and private sector since July 1, 1977, when he became the first Assistant District Attorney for the Dublin Judicial Circuit. In 1979, he entered into private practice and was appointed as Juvenile Court Judge for Laurens County and served in that capacity for the next 18 years while practicing law.
He began private practice of law as an associate with Douglas & Robertson, which became Robertson & Smith when the Honorable Dubignion Douglas was appointed to Superior Court Judge for the Dublin Judicial Circuit. He is a former member of Nelson, Gillis & Smith, where he practiced 10 years. In 2000, Mr. Smith was elected as a Judge to the Superior Court and served almost 12 years before retiring and re-entering private practice. He is now the managing partner of Smith Garner, LLC, here in Dublin.
Mr. Smith is a member of Gideons International. While serving as Superior Court Judge, he served as Administrative Judge for the Eighth Judicial Administrative District, served on the Council of Superior Court Judges and the Judicial Council of Georgia, served on the Legislative Committee, Drug Court Committee, and the Compensation Retirement Committee with a Council of Superior Court Judges and as a former member of the Council of Juvenile Court Judges.
