William “Will” Smith, Florence attorney and former Lauderdale County Commissioner is in the Alabama Republican Primary Run-Off for the Place 2 Judgeship on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. Will Smith said, “Conservative grassroots Alabama political organizations have spoken. I am their conservative choice. I have been endorsed by the two largest Republican groups in Alabama as well as other conservative groups throughout the state because I am a Christian, a conservative and a family man.”
Will Smith continued by saying, “I am running for the Court of Criminal Appeals because I have the legal experience of practicing law in Alabama for over a quarter of a century, the conviction to follow the rule of law, and North Alabama needs representation on the Alabama courts of appeal and in state government.”
The results of the March 3rd Republican Primary showed that 57% of the voters wanted a new judge on the Court of Criminal Appeals in Place #2. Will Smith only trailed the two-term incumbent by a margin of 43% to 37%. Smith said, “Our campaign message really resonated with primary voters and it is amazing we were within 6 percentage points of the incumbent despite being outspent over 15 to 1. While I was outspent, I was not outworked. I traveled to the 4 corners of Alabama visiting almost 60 counties during the 60-day primary.”
Will and his wife, Laura, reside in Killen with their seven-year-old daughter, Angel Joy, who has autism. The Smiths are active members of Greenhill First Baptist Church. Will has served as a Sunday school teacher, international missions worker and Upward basketball coach.
Smith received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in Birmingham in 1992 where he received the American Jurisprudence Award for receiving the highest grade in Criminal Procedure. Licensed to practice law in Alabama, Georgia, and before the United States Supreme Court, Smith operates a full service law firm representing clients from all walks of life in both civil and criminal matters. He has represented clients in courts all over the state of Alabama and has successfully handled appeals in both the Alabama and federal appeals systems.
A fifth generation Lauderdale County resident, Will is a product of the public schools and a graduate of the University of North Alabama, where he received both his undergraduate and Master of Business Administration degrees.
Smith has held a number of leadership positions in the Shoals area including serving as president of the University of North Alabama Alumni Association, Lauderdale County Bar Association, and the Tennessee Valley Historical Society.
Will Smith has served as a board member of the YMCA of the Shoals, W.C. Handy Music Festival, Rape Response of Northwest Alabama, the Salvation Army and has been a member of the Florence Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow) and the Lauderdale County Cattlemen’s Association.
Smith’s previous work experiences include working in his family’s small business, working as a substitute teacher in public schools, and serving as an adjunct professor of Business Law at both Northwest Shoals Community College and the University of North Alabama.
The Alabama Republican Primary Run-Off is July 14th. For more information see www.WillSmith4AL.com or https://www.facebook.com/WillSmithforJudge .
Paid for by Committee to Elect Will Smith, 750 Turtle Cove Road, Killen, AL 35645
