The North Carolina Mock Trial Program has named named a veteran educator and licensed attorney from western North Carolina as its executive director.
Smith, a resident of Arden, is a licensed attorney in North Carolina and practiced as a civil litigator in Charleston, S.C., in the 1990s. He earned an undergraduate from UNC Chapel Hill, a law degree from N.C. Central University and an masters in education from George Mason University. He served 14 years on the Hendersonville City Council.
Smith taught high school social studies and English for more than 26 years and coached the mock trial team at Hendersonville High School for 17 years, often to the state finals competition. He also helped start the first mock trial team at Hendersonville Middle School.
Attorney Brooke Schmidly, president of the Board of Directors, said, “After many years of success with limited staff and a large cadre of volunteers, we are so fortunate to have Jerry Smith leading the NC Mock Trial Program statewide as our executive director. His experience supporting students, volunteers, and attorney advisers in Henderson County will expand to lead North Carolinians across the state to make meaningful contributions to their communities and our state and nation.”