Atlanta, October 3, 2018 – Superior Court Judge Arthur L. Smith of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit has been designated to serve in place of Justice Charles J. Bethel in the appeal of In the Interest of H.G.D. et al., children (S18G0199). The Supreme Court of Georgia will hear arguments in the case on Oct. 9 during its 2:00 P.M. session. In this case, grandparents of a young boy and girl are appealing a lower court’s denial of their motion asking the court to allow them to present evidence so they can regain custody of their grandchildren. In addition to hearing arguments, Judge Smith will participate in the Court’s decision.
Judge Smith, 63, was appointed to the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit on Dec. 16, 2011 by Gov. Nathan Deal. The Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit includes the counties of Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Talbot, and Taylor. He has been reelected twice. Prior to his public service, he served in a general practice law firm in Columbus from 1979-1989. In 1989, he joined the Legal Division at AFLAC and handled litigation and arbitration throughout the United States. He also served as a JAG Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves.
Judge Smith is a native of Columbus, GA. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from Columbus High School in 1973. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Columbus College (now Columbus State University) in 1976. He obtained his law degree from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in 1979. In 2005, he obtained an L.L.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law.
Judge Smith is a member of the American Bar Association, Columbus Bar Association, and Kiwanis Club of Columbus. In 2017, he received Columbus State University’s Thomas Y. Whitely Distinguished Alumni Award. Judge Smith serves on the Executive Committee of the Council of Superior Court Judges and is a member of the Judicial Council of Georgia. He also serves as the Administrative Judge of the 3rd Judicial District of Georgia, which consists of four Judicial Circuits that include 16 counties and 18 superior court judges.
Judge Smith is an active member of St. Luke United Methodist Church. He has been married to his wife, Sue, for 36 years. They have two grown daughters and one grandchild.
(Designated judges are appointed when a justice must recuse himself or herself from a particular case. The Supreme Court of Georgia maintains a list of select judges from around the state and when the need arises, the Court appoints the next judge on the list.)