Smartt says elect judge who is best for the job
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Smartt, who is a native of this area, grew up in the Smartt Station community and graduated from Warren County High School in 1971. He received his BS degree in 1976 from the University of Tennessee, followed by his law degree in 1980.
He first worked for Judge James Dempster before establishing his own practice.
He is married to the former Marlene Sullivan and they have three children, ages 5, 17, and 24. He is the son of Martha and the late Diemer Smartt, and is brother of George Smartt and Teresa Barrett. He is the grandson of the late Alma and Judge R.W. Smartt and Francis and Bowling Morton.
Smartt said he believes in cutting through the clutter and giving voters more substance than slickness.
“You and I know what caliber of person it’s going to take,” Smartt said. “You want reasons, facts, and details about a person – not campaign signs, slogans, billboards, brightly colored signs or bumper stickers. This isn’t about popularity. It’s about who has the best skills, experience and temperament to guide our judicial system. After all, the actions of your circuit judge have a profound effect upon the lives of the people who enter the judicial system.”
Smartt said he understands the qualifications for circuit judge, but he also understands the people who will have to deal with that judge.
“The circuit judge deals with people who experience extraordinary circumstances,” Smartt said. “More often than not, those circumstances threaten to shatter families if they’re not properly handled in this court by a fair, courteous, attentive and firm judge.”
Being a 48-year-old father of three children and an attorney for 22 years, Smartt says he has gained valuable experience in those years.
“Every person I’ve met, every client I’ve represented, and every problem I’ve helped solve has taught me new lessons in life,” Smartt said.
Smartt noted he has “the judicial system in his blood,” hailing back to his grandfather, Judge R.W. Smartt, and that he wants to honor the history of his grandfather by becoming a good judge for his generation.
Smartt said he is concerned by the drug problems here.
“Drug abuse must be dealt with as a legal, medical and social problem,” Smartt said. “We don’t have to be a big city to have big-city problems. These problems need to be dealt with in a forceful and consistent manner.”
Smartt has been active in the community, teaching swimming lessons for 20 years, serving as president of Families in Crisis, president of the Main Street McMinnville program, coaching youth athletics, a past president of the McMinnville Bar, former chairman of the Democratic Party and numerous other community efforts.
However, Smartt said it takes more than community involvement and a college degree to be judge.
“The people of Warren and Van Buren counties deserve a full-time judge with the patience to allow each person who comes before the court to present their full case,” Smartt said. “I believe each matter brought before the court presents a unique opportunity to affect the lives of the people involved. Every person should leave court with the belief they received a fair hearing. As circuit judge, I will take the time to hear all the facts and decide the cases upon those facts and a fair application of the law.
“I will bring to bear my experiences as a lawyer, a husband, a father and a member of this community to provide in every case and to every person the fairness, courtesy, attention and firmness they deserve. I hope you will look for substance instead of succumbing to the slickness of fancy campaigns.”