Hon. James P. Smith        

                  Circuit Judge

          Judge Smith has been a Madison County Circuit Judge since 1995.  Prior to becoming a judge, he privately practiced law and spent 16 years in the Alabama State Legislature.  Judge Smith is a native of Huntsville and graduated from Butler High School.  He received his Bachelor degree from University of Alabama in Huntsville and his Juris Doctorate degree in 1976 from the University of Alabama Law School, with honors.  He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1978 and the Alabama Senate in 1982.  During his career in the Senate, he served as Chairman of the Banking and Insurance, Committee, Chairman of the Rules Committee and Chairman of the Senate Health Committee and was best known for Aid to Education and Child-Protection Legislation.  Judge Smith enjoys backpacking, skiing and hunting.  He is a member of the Alabama Sierra

Club.  As an avid hiker and outdoorsman, he also worked to pass legislation protecting Alabama's environment.