Lemuel Franklin Smith (April 21, 1890 – October 15, 1956) was a Virginia, legislator, lawyer and judge.

Lemuel F. Smith
Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia
In office
February 15, 1951 – October 15, 1956
Preceded byAbram P. Staples
Succeeded byHarold F. Snead
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Albemarle, Greene, and Charlottesville
In office
January 14, 1920 – 1926
Preceded byDavid H. Pitts
Eber A. Carpenter
Succeeded byAlbert S. Bolling
Personal details
Born
Lemuel Franklin Smith

(1890-04-21)April 21, 1890
Shadwell, Virginia, U.S.
DiedOctober 15, 1956(1956-10-15) (aged 66)
Virginia, U.S.
SpouseEleanor Grace Stulting
Alma materRandolph Macon College
University of Virginia

Early life

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Smith was born in Albemarle County, Virginia on April 21, 1890.[1] He attended Randolph Macon College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree.[2]

Career

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After teaching for three years at Randolph Macon Academy, he entered law school at the University of Virginia where he received his law degree in 1916. Shortly after that, he and John S. Battle opened a law office in Charlottesville. He was a member of Charlottesville's City Council, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Commonwealth's Attorney for Albemarle County, judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit and, in 1951, was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia. He served on the court until his death. Justice Smith received an honorary LL. D. from Randolph Macon in 1951.

His great nephew, James H. Smith, followed in his footsteps and became Commonwealth's attorney and Juvenile and Domestics Relations judge. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

References

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  1. ^ "Lemuel Franklin Smith". House History. Virginia House of Delegates Clerk's Office. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "Lemuel Franklin Smith, February 15, 1951–October 15, 1956". Virginia Appellate Court History. Retrieved February 11, 2024.