For the first time in more than a dozen years, Judge Phil Smith's courtroom will sit empty. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Four people have applied for a circuit court vacancy in Tennessee's 20th Judicial District, . Gov. Judge Smith joined the Norman Law Officesin 1990 and began his own practice alongside Phillip Robinson and Teresa Webb Oglesby in March 2001. And if you had the right set of facts on your side, you would win," said Leonardo. District Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith of Davidson County died Saturday night at the age of 62, confirmed The Tennessee Judiciary. It is an honor to serve as presiding judge of DC4 and to carry on Judge Normans legacy and vision, Judge Smith said. PDF Hon. Jennifer Smith Judge, Division IV, Criminal Court, 20th Judicial [4][10][11], From 2008 to 2010, Smith worked as Investigation Coordinator for the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. He was a member of the sex crimes and domestic violence units of the DA's office. All rights reserved. Judiciary Mourns the Loss of Nashville Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith, CIRCUIT, CRIMINAL, CHANCERY & BUSINESS COURTS, ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON COMPOSITION OF JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. Many of them have been here for many years, some since the inception of the program. [24], Smith is a competitive triathlete, having taken up swimming when he was in his mid-thirties. Judge Smith was recently re-elected on Sept. 1 as the judge for Division IV of the Tennessee 20th Judicial District Circuit Court. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Pam Smith; children, Katelynn Smith and Kelsey Roberge (Mikey); grandchildren, Briston Roberge, Hadley Roberge, and Reed Roberge; brother, Scott Smith. They look healthy. The vacancy was created by the Sept. 4 death of Judge Philip E. Smith. Philip E. Smith | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts Judges across the state were sworn in for their new terms Sept. 1. Wadhwani is formerly an investigative reporter with The Tennessean who focused on the impact of public policies on the people and places across Tennessee. A Knoxville police . Ross, Stanley Deputy Clerk, Criminal Division Division V Judge Babb E-mail: stanleyross@jisnashville.gov Phone: 615.862-5601 Ext - 71653. Davidson County Circuit Court Judge Philip Smith dies - WKRN News 2 In 2015, The Womens Political Collaborative of Tennessee honored Judge Smith with a Good Guys Award for his work on domestic violence. Treatment courts restore lives from the devastation of addiction, save valuable resources, and are good for the community. In August 2010 he was elected to complete Robinsons term. NewsChannel 5 Legal Analyst Nick Leonardo had several clients appear in Judge Smith's courtroom, who specialized in Family Law. Address: 2400 Crestmoor Rd., Nashville, TN 37215 phone: 615 . Smith died over the weekend unexpectedly. Judge Smith thinks the programs success is due to several factors. [18], On November 18, 2022, United States Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith special counsel to oversee the criminal investigations into Donald Trump's actions regarding the January 6 United States Capitol attack, and Trump's handling and storage of government records, including classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Anyone that would like to join in please do so. Additionally, he served as president of the National Association of Extradition Officials from 1985 to 1986. [3][4] In 1987, he graduated from Liverpool High School[5] where he played football and baseball. Following the shocking news of his passing, Smith was heralded for his judicial career by Nashville's top elected officials. He was also the chief prosecutor at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, an international tribunal at The Hague tasked with investigating and prosecuting war crimes in the Kosovo War. He was also the chief prosecutor at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, an . This, of course, does not mean that DC4 is a place without consequences. Now more than ever, tough and fair journalism is important. The Committee to Expose Dishonest and Incompetent Judges, Attorneys and Public Officials . Judge Smith was appointed Judge of the Fourth Circuit Court of Davidson County by Governor Phil Bredesen in 2009. Scott Turner | sturner@al.com. Are you keeping in touch with her?. In addition to this year, he was also re-elected in 2010 and 2014. Philip E. Smith Circuit Court Judge Year Elected/Appointed 2009 Prior Judicial Experience 1990-94 served as Special Judge in the 2nd Circuit Court, 3rd Circuit Court, 4th Circuit Court, 5th Circuit Court and Probate Court. Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall announced the. Ford, Melissa Deputy Clerk, Criminal Division Division V Judge Babb E-mail: mford@jisnashville.gov Rather than viewing addiction as a character flaw, DC4 residents are taught to regard it for what it is, which is an illness, Judge Smith said. It is important to get to the underlying reasons that people are coming into the system to begin with. [4] Smith has since returned to the United States. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Lurene Smith. Jennifer L. Smith is Judge of Division IV, Criminal Court, 20th Judicial District. If a person fails to complete the program, they go to jail. No matter the complexities of the case, Leonardo says Judge Smith was always fair. On the record with Metro Nashville Public Schools board, Memphis-Shelby County School Board candidates face, In Tennessee's first partisan school board elections,. Nashville School of Law4013 Armory Oaks DriveNashville, TN 37204Telephone: 615-256-3684. If you dont address the root of the problem, then you often see the revolving door of recidivism with the same individuals and even families coming back to court over and over., Part of doing this effectively is by reframing the way many people, including many addicts, view chemical dependencies. He was reelected in 2000, 2006, 2014 and 2022. NewsChannel 5 Legal Analyst Nick Leonardo says the Judicial Trial Court Vacancy Committee will now convene to narrow down Judge Smith's successor to three top candidates. NASHVILLE, TN Judge Jennifer Smith is vying to keep her position as 20th District Criminal Court Divison IV Judge, an appointment she received in 2018 from then-Governor Bill Haslam. Franklin, TN 37064. Recovery courts reflect a growing recognition that criminal behavior is not always best addressed by a jail cell. [10][13][19][20] He worked initially from the Netherlands while recovering from a fractured leg which was injured when he was struck by a scooter while cycling. He was appointed to the Fourth Circuit by Gov. Later in his career he served as a special judge for the Davidson County 2nd Circuit Court, 5th Circuit Court, Probate Court and as a special referee for the Davidson County Juvenile Court. Tennessee Judges Philip Smith, John Everett Williams die over Labor Day Ron Smith was appointed . The Tennessee Judiciary is mourning the loss of the 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith, who passed away unexpectedly September 4 at the age of 62. The Tennessee AP Broadcasters and Media (TAPME) named her Journalist of the Year in 2019 as well as giving her the Malcolm Law Award for Investigative Journalism. 51 . Aftercare participants are still required to undergo drug screenings, attend regular dockets at DC4, and comply with other therapeutic requirements, all of which takes a minimum of six months for completion. Honoring the Legacy of Judge Phil Smith - The Tennessee Tribune [12][11] In that position, he oversaw cases against government officials and militia members accused of war crimes and genocide. Smith began his career in 1988 with the the Davidson County Office of the District Attorney General, before turning to private practice for 19 years. . [16], On May 7, 2018, Smith was named to a four-year term as chief prosecutor for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, investigating war crimes committed in the Kosovo War,[9][10][14] including the case of Salih Mustafa. He joined the office in 1982 as an assistant attorney general. Judge Smith, who worked at NST for the past 10 years, was appointed as . Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Donate to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Challenge. Jennifer Smith is the Judge of Division IV Criminal Court for the 20th Judicial District. Judiciary Mourns the Loss of Nashville Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith September 4, 2022 The Tennessee Judiciary is mourning the loss of the 20 th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith, who passed away unexpectedly September 4 at the age of 62. Since then, she has been hard at work learning DC4s operations and meeting the many employees and residents who make it run. Staff Directory | Criminal Court Clerk of Metropolitan Nashville and Colleagues remembered him over the weekend on social media as a champion of domestic violence victims who exuded kindness. You hope it doesnt happen, but at the same time must be prepared to address it as part of the recovery process when it does., Judge Jennifer Smith Takes Over As Presiding Judge Of Davidson County Drug Court, Instructions for Successful Bar Applicants, Circuit, Criminal, Chancery, Business Courts & Three-Judge Panels, Court of Appeals - Internal Operating Procedures, CIRCUIT, CRIMINAL, CHANCERY & BUSINESS COURTS, ADVISORY TASK FORCE ON COMPOSITION OF JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. 2023 www.tennessean.com. Served as Special Referee for the Juvenile Court of Davidson County. Metro Councilmember Freddie O'Connell just saw Judge Smith for the first time since the pandemic. Judge Smith graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and became a licensed attorney in 1988. Judiciary Mourns the Loss of Nashville Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith [13][11], In 2015, Smith became an assistant U.S. attorney in the Middle District of Tennessee, at Nashville. Attorneys who practice family law in Davidson County's 20th Judicial District have been asked to meet at 3 p.m. this Thursday, July 28, in 4th Circuit Court Judge Phil Smith's courtroom. Reports are that youre making great, great progress, so keep up the good work, Judge Smith said to a program participant. Re-Elect Judge Jennifer Smith - Facebook And though is courtroom is now empty, those who knew him feel full of appreciation for all he did for Nashville. September 6, 2022. Judge Smith became the presiding judge of the 20th Judicial District on September 1, 2022. Before her appointment, Smith served as Associate Solicitor General in the Tennessee Attorney Generals Office. He was 62. Judge Smith oversaw her first DC4 docket on July 2. When I ask my friend, Judge Smith, to swear me in last week , I never imagined it would be one of his last official acts..Prayers for the Smith familyRIP Judge Phil Smith. [6][7][8] Smith then attended Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in 1994 with a Juris Doctor, cum laude. He was first appointed to the bench by former Governor Phil Bredesen in March of 2009. Judge Smith said there is a nine-month waiting list to get into the program. Judge Jennifer Smith Takes Over As Presiding Judge Of Davidson County He started his legal career working with the Davidson County Office of the District Attorney General. Smith was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court Division IV in March 2009 by Gov. Preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Lurene Smith.