--- title: "Tori Smith | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tori-smith-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-hamilton" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Tori Smith Tennessee General Sessions Court, Hamilton County · General Sessions Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Tennessee General Sessions Court, Hamilton County - State: Tennessee - Role: General Sessions Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - General Sessions Court Judge in Hamilton County, Tennessee, a position she assumed in 2024 after being appointed to fill the vacancy left by Judge Alex McVeagh’s election to the Circuit Court. - Before her judicial appointment, Judge Smith served as an attorney in the 11th Judicial District Public Defenders office, where she supervised a team of public defenders and gained extensive experience in both civil and criminal law. ### Education ### Additional information - Candidate in the August 6, 2026, special election for General Sessions Judge, a non-partisan race that will determine who serves the remainder of the term until 2030. - Year Elected/Appointed: 2024 - Her interest in law began in childhood, inspired by early experiences such as watching the O.J. Simpson trial and a memorable episode of Saved by the Bell. - Judge Smith is a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, a federally recognized tribe in Alabama, and received support from her tribe’s education scholarship to attend law school. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### media coverage and recording Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 30 allows media coverage of public judicial proceedings subject to the presiding judge's control and requires written media requests at least two business days before the proceeding unless waived. Evidence excerpt: Requests by representatives of the media for such coverage must be made in writing to the presiding judge not less than two (2) business days before the proceeding is scheduled to begin. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording restrictions Scope: statewide Tennessee Rule 30 prohibits media coverage of jury selection, jurors, closed proceedings, and certain minor or juvenile-court participants. Evidence excerpt: Media coverage of jury selection is prohibited. [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote technology Scope: statewide Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 55 permits teleconferencing, video conferencing, or other technology for court proceedings at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. Evidence excerpt: The use of teleconferencing, video conferencing or other technology to conduct court proceedings or other court business remotely is permissible at the discretion of the trial or appellate court. [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/tori-smith) - [Official roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/tori-smith) - [Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/tori-smith) - [Rule 30: Media Guidelines](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines) - [Rule 55: Use of Technology for Court Proceedings](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-55-use-technology-court-proceedings) - [Tori Smith](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/general-sessions-courts/judges/tori-smith) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tori-smith-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-hamilton", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tori-smith-tn-general-sessions-court-judge-hamilton", "name": "Tori Smith | KnowJudges", "description": "Tori Smith, Tennessee General Sessions Court, Hamilton County. 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Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/rules/supreme-court-rules/rule-30-media-guidelines). Collected 2026-07-26.