TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Longtime Public Defender Dies in Tullahoma

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Nov 18, 2014
News Type: Passages

Longtime public defender Bethel Campbell Smoot died yesterday (Nov. 18) at his home, according to the Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference. Smoot served as the 14th Judicial District public defender representing Coffee County for 25 years. He was first appointed to the post in 1989 by then-governor Ned McWherter and was re-elected without opposition in subsequent years. Smoot earned his undergraduate degree in forestry and a master’s in wood technology, and worked as a land surveyor and instructor at the Auburn University Department of Forestry before attending law school. Smoot graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1972 and worked as an assistant district attorney general for one year and then joined the Tullahoma firm of Hanes, Hull, Smoot & Reider until being named to the public defender post. Smoot completed two terms as president of the Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference and served on the TBA Board of Governors during those years as the group’s representative. A 2013 profile in the Tullahoma News captured Smoot's commitment to and pride in his work. Funeral information was pending at press time, though the Kilgore Funeral Home in Tullahoma will be handling arrangements.

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