Arthur L. Smith III at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Judge
- Current assignment
- Chattahoochee County Superior Court
- Jurisdiction
- Georgia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Arthur L. Smith III
Chief Judge · Chattahoochee County Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- The Chief Judge of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Superior Court in Georgia, serving since January 1, 2023, and has been a judge since 2011
- On January 1, 2023, he is also designated the Chief Superior Court Judge of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit
- On July 31, 2012, he was elected by the citizens of the circuit to serve as judge for a full four-year term, beginning January 1, 2013
- In December of 2011, he was sworn in by Governor Nathan Deal to serve as Judge of the Superior Courts of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit
- Judge Smith practiced as a private attorney from 1979-1989 in a general practice law firm in Columbus
- U.S. Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer
Education
- Columbus College (now known as CSU) — B.A.
- Samford University's Cumberland School of Law and later obtained an L — J.D.
Additional information
- Was re-elected without opposition in 2016 and 2020.
- Columbus High School in 1973
- Judge Smith is active in St.
- He also served as a JAG Officer in the U.S.
- Judge Smith is currently the President of the Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia and serves as a member of the Judicial Council which is the governing Board of all classes of Georgia Courts.
- Prior to judicial service, he was Administrative Judge of the Third Judicial District of Georgia and served on the Executive Committee of the Council of Supreme Court Judges
- Judge Smith presides over the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Superior Court, which covers Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Talbot, and Taylor counties.
- As Chief Judge, he also serves as President of the Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia and is a member of the Judicial Council, the governing board for all Georgia courts
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Georgia's class-specific Uniform Court Rules govern electronic devices and recording in state trial courts. Before using recording, photography, livestreaming, or similar courtroom technology, confirm the governing rule and the assigned court's procedure.
Uniform Superior, Juvenile, Magistrate, Municipal and Probate Court RulesSupreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules ↗
Statewide
For Georgia Superior Court proceedings, statewide Rule 22 governs recording devices and courtroom recording; counsel should confirm judge approval and courtroom conditions before using recording, photographic, or comparable electronic presentation equipment.
The new version will take effect on May 1, 2018.Supreme Court of Georgia, New Rule 22 approved for use of recording devices in courtrooms ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Uniform Superior Court Rules
Chattahoochee County Superior Court; Harris County Superior Court; Marion County Superior Court; Muscogee County Superior Court; Talbot County Superior Court; Taylor County Superior Court
Superior Court proceedings. Collected April 9, 2026 compilation; amendments effective November 5, 2026 are future on this collection date and are not applied. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked August 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked September 6, 2026.
Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Supreme Court of Georgia, court orders amending Uniform Trial Court Rules ↗Supreme Court of Georgia, New Rule 22 approved for use of recording devices in courtrooms
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Supreme Court of Georgia, New Rule 22 approved for use of recording devices in courtrooms ↗Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 25, 2026
View Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster ↗