Left: Judge Smith signs a final judgment finalizing an adoption during an adoption day event (2023). Top right: Judge Smith provides a lesson on the history of the area’s legal community to members of Bradenton Kiwanis (2026). Bottom right: Judge Smith is seen here at a lunchtime meeting of the Bradenton Kiwanis club performing his duties as club president (2021). File photos
Author, Kiwanian, Historian, Judge
A legacy of service, scholarship & civic pride
It’s official; Judge Gilbert A. Smith, Jr. is set to retire on July 31, 2026. He was elected in August 2008 and took the bench in January 2009 and was re-elected without opposition in 2014 and 2021. Before he hangs up his robe, the community is celebrating the contributions he has made to its citizens.
Judge Smith has had a distinguished career as an attorney (like his father) and judge (also like his father). He has also demonstrated outstanding service to the community through his lifelong involvement in scouting and the Kiwanis Club (Bradenton chapter), whose organizational mission is making communities better for children.
To honor his many contributions to the community, Manatee High School’s Alumni Association has named Judge Smith as an Outstanding Alumni in the Community Achievement Category and will celebrate him and other outstanding alumni at a dinner later this month.
However, the special community recognition doesn’t stop there. Recently, Judge Smith was honored with the Leadership Manatee Alumni Association’s Kent C. Schulz Award for Distinguished Leadership. The award, which will be presented at a luncheon in May, honors individuals who have made a meaningful and lasting impact on Manatee County.
Leadership Manatee’s award announcement noted that “Judge Smith’s legal career reflects decades of integrity, wisdom, and dedication to justice. […] He has guided young professionals, supported aspiring legal minds, mentored youth, and consistently invested his time strengthening” the community’s social fabric. “Known for his humility and accessibility, he meets people where they are and believes strongly in growth, purpose, and second chances.”
Adding to his lasting impact are the books Judge Smith has penned. He is an expert in Manatee County’s legal history, and his most recent publication, “Lawyers & Legends of Manatee County – Second Edition: The History of Lawyers and Legends of Manatee County from 1855 to 2024,” details the people and important events of the region’s legal community.
Leadership Manatee organizers say Judge Smith’s “legacy of service, scholarship, and civic pride makes him an exceptionally deserving recipient” of the award.
Congratulations to Judge Smith for the well-deserved recognition!
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