It’s official: The Judge Gilbert A. Smith Sr. Jury Assembly Room

The Jury Assembly Room of the Manatee County Judicial Center was dedicated to Judge Gilbert A. Smith Sr. on Friday, before a full house in the assembly room.

Gathered to honor the esteemed judge’s memory were his family, elected officials, friends and notables from Sarasota, Manatee, Tallahassee and elsewhere in Florida.

Judge Smith’s legal career spanned more than four decades, and he served as Senior Judge in the 12th Judicial Circuit through 1998. Many of those gathered Friday had “first names” of Judge, including his son, Judge Gilbert A. Smith Jr.

This story was originally published February 16, 2018 at 6:10 PM with the headline "It’s official: The Judge Gilbert A. Smith Sr. Jury Assembly Room."