Valerie Smith
Valerie Smith is a judge of the Tennessee Court of Appeals Western Section. She assumed office on March 24, 2025. Her current term ends on September 1, 2026.
Smith is running for re-election for judge of the Tennessee Court of Appeals Western Section. She is on the ballot in the retention election on August 6, 2026.
On February 28, 2025, Governor of Tennessee Bill Lee (R) appointed Smith to the Tennessee Court of Appeals to replace Arnold B. Goldin (nonpartisan).[1]
Smith was appointed to the Thirtieth Circuit Court of Tennessee by Governor Bill Haslam (R) on March 8, 2016, to succeed Judge D'Army Bailey, who passed away in July 2015.[2] Smith won election to a partial six-year term on August 4, 2016.
Biography
Smith was an attorney at the law office of Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz from 2006 until her judicial appointment in 2016. She was an assistant district attorney in Shelby County from 2000 to 2006.[2]
Elections
2026
See also: Tennessee intermediate appellate court elections, 2026
Tennessee Court of Appeals Western Section
Valerie Smith is running for retention to the Tennessee Court of Appeals Western Section on August 6, 2026.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| Yes | |||
| No | |||
| Total Votes |
 |
Endorsements
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2022
See also: Municipal elections in Shelby County, Tennessee (2022)
General election
General election for 30th Judicial District Circuit Court Division III
Incumbent Valerie Smith won election in the general election for 30th Judicial District Circuit Court Division III on August 4, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Valerie Smith (Nonpartisan) | 99.7 | 112,670 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 347 | ||
| Total votes: 113,017 | |||
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2016
General elections for unexpired local judicial terms and newly created judicial seats in Tennessee were held on August 4, 2016. Incumbent Valerie Smith defeated Michael G. Floyd in the Tennessee 30th Circuit Court Division III general election .
| Tennessee 30th Circuit Court Division III, General Election (Unexpired Term), 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Valerie Smith Incumbent |
69.31% | 51,300 |
| Michael G. Floyd | 30.69% | 22,712 |
| Total Votes | 74,012 | |
| Source: Tennessee Election Results, "August 4, 2016 Unofficial Election Results," accessed August 4, 2016 | ||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2022
Valerie Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee
State courts:
Tennessee Supreme Court • Tennessee Court of Appeals • Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals • Tennessee Circuit Court • Tennessee Chancery Courts • Tennessee Criminal Court • Tennessee Probate Court • Tennessee General Sessions Court • Tennessee Juvenile Court • Tennessee Municipal Court
State resources:
Courts in Tennessee • Tennessee judicial elections • Judicial selection in Tennessee
