The Hon. Joseph C. Smithdeal is a judge for the 8th Judicial Circuit Family Court of South Carolina. He was elected to the bench by the South Carolina General Assembly in 2013 and re-elected in 2019.
The 8th Judicial Circuit includes Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry, and Laurens Counties.
Prior to his election, Smithdeal was a partner at Ayers, Smithdeal & Bettis, P.C. in Greenwood since 1992. At the firm, his practice focused on family law, civil litigation, criminal defense, and workers’ compensation. Smithdeal also represented the Department of Social Services in abuse and neglect cases.
Smithdeal received a bachelor’s degree from The Citadel in 1989. He then completed a J.D. at the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1992.
Smithdeal was a member of the Board of Governors for the South Carolina Association of Justice, the South Carolina Injured Workers Advocates, and the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
He was born in St. Mary’s, Maryland, where his father, William T. Smithdeal, was stationed at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Smithdeal and his wife, Libby, a fellow attorney, have five children.
| Current Appointment 8th Judicial Circuit Family Court of South Carolina | 8th Judicial Circuit Family Court of South Carolina |
|
Education
J.D., University of South Carolina School of Law - 1992 Bachelor's degree, The Citadel - 1989 |
J.D., University of South Carolina School of Law - 1992 Bachelor's degree, The Citadel - 1989 |
| Official Website www.sccourts.org | www.sccourts.org |
| Current Court: | SC - 8th Judicial Circuit Family Court of South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Clerk phone: | +1 (864) 942-8643 |
| Fax: | +1 (803) 734-1126 |
| Role | Employer | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Partner | Ayers, Smithdeal & Bettis, P.C. | Greenwood County, South Carolina |
| Judge | 8th Judicial Circuit Family Court of South Carolina | Greenwood County, South Carolina |
South Carolina Judicial Branch: Judge Joseph C. Smithdeal
Ballotpedia: Joseph Collins Smithdeal
Judicial Merit Selection Committee: Joseph Collins Smithdeal
For full print and download access, please subscribe at https://www.trellis.law/.
