J.D. Smith retiring from state Court of Appeals

GAINESVILLE - A Gainesville man who serves on the state Court of Appeals is retiring and there is already a long list of potential successors.

The Daily Report says at least 23 people have been nominated to replace Smith, a former Hall County Superior Court judge.

Judge Smith, the presiding judge on the state Court of Appeals, plans to retire at the end of the year. He was appointed to the court by then-Gov. Zell Miller , effective May 10, 1993.

He is a past Chief Judge of the Court, having served in that capacity from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2004.

He formerly was Chief Judge of the Superior Courts of the Gainesville-based Northeastern Judicial Circuit, which includes Dawson and Hall counties. He won election to the superior court bench in 1984 and took office on January 1, 1985.

Judge Smith practiced law in Gainesville for over twelve years before becoming a judge.