Biography: Judge Vann Smith passed away unexpectedly on January 22, 2022. He was born in Memphis, TN, on January 13, 1951, to Robert D. Smith, Jr. and Eloise (Vandiver) Smith. He is survived by his wife, Cathy; his sons, Reid and Logan (and their mother Marti Smith Rouby); his grandchildren, Parker and Natalie; and his brothers, Robert (Bob) Smith, III (Susan) and Richard (Ricky) Smith (Nancy).
Following graduation from law school at the University of Arkansas, Judge Smith served as a law clerk for Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Conley F. Byrd, Sr., before joining his brother Bob and George Jernigan in the private practice of law. Former Governor Bill Clinton appointed Judge Smith to the Pulaski County Circuit/Chancery Bench, Sixth Judicial District, on November 8, 1989, for a term to expire on December 31, 1990. In 1990, Judge Smith was elected to the trial bench and served until his retirement on December 31, 2020. Since 2003, the trial judges in the 6th Judicial District voted annually for Judge Smith to assume the Administrative Judge position, which he held until he retired. His colleagues on the trial bench, Judge Mackie Pierce and Judge Chip Welch, described that job as “herding cats” or, more accurately, 16 other judges. In Judge Smith’s own words, all of his cases were important, but one of those cases, Pfeifer vs. Little Rock (the Clinton Library case), resulted in the building of the Clinton Presidential Center and Park, where the Clinton Presidential Library is located.
A life time member of the Arkansas Judicial Council, Judge Smith served on the Council’s Board of Directors and as President in 2012-2013. He was also President of the Judge William R. Overton Inn of Court, and served on the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission. Judge Smith was a long time member of the American, Arkansas, and Pulaski County Bar Associations.
Committed to community service, Judge Smith coached youth baseball for over 40 years, primarily for the Junior Deputy “Babe Ruth” team (The Cardinals) and, after coming out of retirement in 2021, for his grandson’s Little League team (The Sox). He served on the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army, the Ouachita Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, Advocates for Battered Women, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Judge Smith was also a member of the Leadership Institute of the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and served on the Governor’s Conference on Leadership, the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Commission, and the National Conference for Community & Justice.
Judge Smith was a lifelong, active Presbyterian and attended Second Presbyterian Church where he served as both a Deacon and an Elder. He also led the church’s Youth Venture Program every Sunday night and coordinated various outings: campouts, ski trips, and Buffalo River canoe trips. Judge Smith’s son Reid recalls that his father often filled in as a coach for the Penick Boy’s Club basketball team when the regular coach was ejected by a referee. Judge Smith served on the Agency Board of the Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services.
A private internment will occur at Second Presbyterian Church’s Prayer Garden. A Celebration of Life Service will be on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 11:00 AM, at Second Presbyterian Church. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to: Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services, 1501 N. University Avenue #345, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72207; Junior Deputy Baseball, P. O. Box 250709, Little Rock, AR 72225; the Humane Society of Pulaski County, 14600 Colonial Glenn Rd., Little Rock, AR 72210; or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralhome.com.