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Tori Smith

Tori Smith
Candidate for General Sessions Court Judge Division 2 Hamilton, TN 2026-08-06

Victoria "Tori" Smith is a General Sessions Court Judge for Division 2 in Hamilton County, Tennessee, who was appointed to the bench in 2024 and is running for election in August 2026 [5]. Her path to the judiciary began in childhood; she has cited an episode of the television show "Saved by the Bell" and watching the O.J. Simpson trial verdict as early inspirations for her career interest in law and justice [2]. Smith is a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, a federally recognized tribe based in Alabama [2]. She utilized an education scholarship from her tribe to attend law school, allowing her to graduate debt-free [2].

Smith’s legal education began at Michigan State University College of Law in 2011, but she paused her studies after her husband, Andrew Smith, was injured while serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan [7]. She cared for him at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center before returning to complete her law degree at Lincoln Memorial University in Knoxville, Tennessee, graduating in 2018 with the faculty-voted Lincoln Lawyer Award for Ethics [7].

Following law school, Smith joined the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office, where she served as an assistant public defender representing thousands of clients [7]. She was later promoted to General Sessions Court Team Leader, a role in which she supervised a team of seven attorneys and practiced in municipal courts within Hamilton County [7]. Prior to her judicial appointment, she worked as a supervisor for the Public Defender's office [5].

Smith was appointed to the 11th Judicial District General Sessions Court by the Hamilton County Commission to fill the vacancy created when Judge Alex McVeagh was elected to Circuit Court [2]. The County Commission selected her after she received six votes in the second round of balloting during their interview process [5]. She was sworn in on September 4, 2024, with Judge Gary Starnes administering the oath [8]. As a judge, Smith has emphasized treating all courtroom participants with dignity and addressing the needs of third-shift police officers [6].

Outside of her judicial duties, Smith is involved in community service. She and her husband founded the non-profit Honoring the Sacrifice to support wounded soldiers after Andrew Smith lost his legs in an explosion while serving overseas [5]. She also volunteers with the Ooltewah Youth Association and serves on the Adoption Advocacy Board at Silverdale Baptist Church [7]. Smith resides in Hamilton County with her husband and their three children [6].

Sources

Public filings

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Tennessee — campaign finance

Tennessee — statement of interest

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