SJ 142 — Commending the Honorable Robert J. Smith.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24107174D I SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

142 OfferedE February 26, 2024 N Commending the Honorable Robert J.

TN Patrons––Surovell,R Boysko,Agreed Ebbin,to Marsden,by Pekarskythe andSenate, Salim;February 29, 2024 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 4, 2024 O WHEREAS, the Honorable Robert J.

Delegates:Smith, a distinguished jurist and a dedicated veteran of the L United States Army, retired as a judge of the Fairfax Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit of L Virginia on January 31, 2024;

Bulova,and Cohen,WHEREAS, DelaneR,Robert Helmer,Smith Herring,grew Keys-Gamarra,up Krizek,in Seibold,Homer, Sickles,Illinois, Simon,a Sullivan,small Tranrural town south of Chicago, where E of Illinois and Wattsa ––––––––––law Odegree WHEREAS,from what was then known as the HonorableJohn RobertMarshall J.Law School;

Smith,andniversity aD distinguishedWHEREAS, juristhaving andpreviously received a dedicatedcommission veteranas ofa thDsecond lieutenant in the United States Army, retiredRobert asSmith abegan judgehis ofactive theduty Fairfaxmilitary Circuitservice Courtin of1978 and reported to the 19thJudge JudicialAdvocate CircuitGeneral's ofLegal VirginiaCenter onand JanuarySchool 31,in 2024;Charlottesville for training;

and U WHEREAS, Robert Smith grewwas upassigned into Homer,the Illinois,Fort aStewart smallLegal ruralAssistance townOffice, southwhere he hundreds of Chicago,soldiers whereCas hedefense graduatedcounsel at courts-martial for various offenses from Homer1978 Highto School;1982;

heanded subsequentlyWHEREAS, earnedRobert aSmith bachelor'scarried degreeout fromsimilar theduties Universityon ofdeployments WHEREAS,to havingPirmasens, previouslyGermany, receivedand aS commissionKaiserslautern, asGermany, auntil secondhe lieutenantwas reassigned in 1985 to the UnitedAdministrative StatesELaw Army,Office Robertat SmithFort began1 hisBelvoir, activewhere dutyhe taught military servicelaw into 1978soldiers and reportedserved toas the JudgeFreedom Advocateof General'sInformation LegalAct Centerofficer; and School in Charlottesville for training;

E and WHEREAS,R Robertits Smithfirst wassenior assignedassistant topublic thedefender Fortand Stewartplayed Legala Assistancecritical Office,role wherein hethe providedgrowth general legal advice to service members, their families, and retiredoperation personnelof andthe representednew hundredsagency, ofdefending soldiersclients asin defenseat counselleast at60 courts-martialjury fortrials variousover offensesthe fromcourse 1978of tothree 1982;years;

and WHEREAS, Robert Smith carried out similar duties on deployments to Pirmasens, Germany, and Kaiserslautern, Germany, until he was reassigned in 1985 to the Administrative Law Office at Fort andvoir, where he taught military law to soldiers and served as the Freedom of Information Act officer;

WHEREAS, when the Fairfax County Public Defender Office opened in 1987, Robert Smith became 1 its first senior assistant public defender and played a critical role in the growth and operati2n of the new agency, defending clients in at least 60 jury trials over the course of three years;

and WHEREAS,years Robert Smith presided over both courts with great fairness and wisdomtwo duringmonths hison 33 was in charge of the groupbench; of judges who heard mental commitment hearings during his time in the and district court;

he offered his leadership and expertise to various committees and was in charge of the group of judges who heard mental commitment hearings during his time in the district court;

in 1997, he began 34 teaching a criminal law advocacy course twice yearly at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and 35 School, then held several postings over the next several years;

andanddvocate 36General's Legal Center and WHEREAS, Robert Smith was assigned to the 150th Judge Advocate General Detachment in 37 Alexandria and the 154th Judge Advocate General Detachment at Fort Hood, Texas, then was mobilized to the Army Trial Judiciary in 2003, in which capacity he presided over trials in Virginia, New York, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;

andn 2003, in which capacity he presided over trials in Virginia, New York, WHEREAS, Robert Smith held positions in the reserve judiciary in Washington, Alaska, and California, until he was mobilized again in 2005 and joined the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, which hears court-martial appeals from around the country;

and WHEREAS,Advocate RobertGeneral SmithDetachment, finishedwhich hisis militarythe careerchief astrial thejudge commander of the 154thUnited JudgeStates Army Reserve, and was responsible for overseeing military judges around the world until his retirement in 2009;

anddand WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, Robert Smith received the Legion of Merit for his outstanding conduct and accomplishments;

and WHEREAS, Robert Smith has enjoyed the love and support of his wife, Dorothy, and their children, Alexandra and Peter, and looks forward to seeking new opportunities to serve his community;

now,now,en, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby Circuitcommend Court of the 19thHonorable JudicialRobert CircuitJ. of Virginia;

and,Smith beon itementthe occasion of his retirement as a judge of the Fairfax SJ142Circuit 2Court of 2 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk19th ofJudicial theCircuit Senate prepare a copy of thisVirginia; resolution for presentation to the Honorable Robert J.

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for of 2 presentation to the Honorable Robert J.