[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 18 (Friday, February 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E136-E137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING ATTORNEY JOCK MICHAEL SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 3, 2012

  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I rose to recognize and pay 
tribute to one of our Nation's most distinguished trial lawyers, an 
avid sports collector, historian, author, and family man, Attorney Jock 
Michael Smith. I wish to add this statement as an extension to my 
remarks. Attorney Smith was a well-respected member of the Alabama bar 
and he was known nationally throughout the legal community for his 
exceptional legal abilities, legendary courtroom skills, civic activism 
and passion for equal justice. Sadly, he passed away at his home in 
Montgomery, Alabama on January 8th at the age of 63.
  The story of Jock Michael Smith is not just one of a notable and 
accomplished attorney, social justice advocate, author, and sports 
collector. His story is one of hope, beating the odds, and the fearless 
pursuit of one's dreams. The life and legacy of Jock Smith is an 
inspiration to us all.
  Despite losing his father tragically at a young age, despite being 
told in high school that he should be a sanitation worker, he did not 
let others determine his future. This young boy, son of a widowed 
single mother of two, was determined to chart his own course.
  Attorney Jock Smith was born in New York City and graduated from 
Andrew Jackson High School. Later that year, he enrolled in the 
historic Tuskegee Institute where he majored in History. Jock was a 
member of the baseball and track teams, served as Vice President of 
Student Government, and was the recipient of the Tuskegee Institute 
Department of History Citation for achieving the major's highest grade 
point average. He was also the first student from Tuskegee Institute to 
be listed in the National Student Register.

[[Page E137]]

  Inspired by the memory of his father, Jock developed his oratorical 
and academic gifts. He graduated with honors from Tuskegee University 
and then matriculated to the University of Notre Dame School of Law on 
an academic scholarship. As a first year law student, Jock founded the 
Black American Law Students' Association (BALSA) chapter at Notre Dame. 
Jock went on to earn his law degree from Notre Dame in 1973.
  Jock Smith began his career as a legal advisor for the NAACP in 
Broome County, New York and was a Professor of Afro American Studies at 
New York State University. He then served as an assistant attorney 
general for the state of Alabama and served as a political science 
professor at Tuskegee University. Later, he opened his own law office 
in Tuskegee and thereafter became a city municipal judge in Camp Hill, 
Alabama. Jock Smith then went on to serve as County Attorney for Macon 
County, Alabama, a position he held for 15 years.
  In 1996, Attorney Jock Smith co-founded a partnership with the late 
renowned attorney Johnnie Cochran and attorneys Keith Givens and Samuel 
Cherry. The law firm of Cochran, Cherry, Givens and Smith has 22 
offices across this country and continues to be one of the most well-
known criminal defense and civil plaintiff law firms in this nation.
  Attorney Jock Smith's remarkable legal career was filled with record-
setting verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, including a 
landmark $1.6 billion verdict against Southwestern Life insurance, 
which was the largest in America in 2004. According to the National 
Journal and Lawyers Weekly, the verdict remains the largest civil 
verdict obtained by an African American lawyer in the nation's history. 
He also successfully won landmark cases against Orkin Pest Control, 
Monsanto and others. He represented the legacy estates of both Rosa 
Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. and he represented the Negro League 
Players, and civil rights leader Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.
  Attorney Smith also had a passion for sports memorabilia. Jock Smith 
has the distinction of owning one of the nation's largest collections 
of game-worn, sports memorabilia. He used his national sports 
collection as an instrumental tool to motivate teens and young adults 
to overcome challenges.
  During his illustrious legal career, Attorney Smith's hard work and 
leadership was acknowledged by numerous awards. He was recognized by 
the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association for his tireless dedication and 
unwavering commitments. He received the inaugural Johnnie L. Cochran 
Jr. Journey to Justice Award in 2005 at the National Bar Association 
Convention. And most recently, he was honored in the inaugural edition 
of Who's Who in Black Alabama and named a member of the Board of 
Trustees at Tuskegee University in 2011.
  As an author, Jock Smith shared his amazing life journey in an 
autobiography entitled ``Climbing Jacob's Ladder: A Trial Lawyer's 
Journey on Behalf of `the Least of These'.''
  Media personality and author Tavis Smiley provided an insightful view 
of Jock's writing debut that accurately surmises his life's journey:
  ``Jock Smith's story is part history lesson and part sermon and one 
hundred percent fascinating. He and lawyers like his partner Johnnie 
Cochran are modern-day knights, using their skills to protect both the 
poor and defenseless. On a personal level, Climbing Jacob's Ladder 
shows how faith and hard work can bring great success.''
  Jock Smith was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated 
and he was the first African American to serve on the board for the 
President's Advisory Council of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). 
Attorney Smith also served as a member of the National Finance 
Committee and served on the President's Advisory Council for the 
Democratic National Convention (DNC).
  Jock Smith is survived by his wife of 45 years, Yvette Smiley-Smith 
and his daughter, Janay Marriel Smith.
  Our nation is eternally grateful for Attorney Jock Smith's 
contributions to the legal community and to this nation. His commitment 
to advocacy to fight for the rights of the disenfranchised is a great 
example for us all to follow. He left an indelible mark in Alabama and 
across this nation and his legacy will be remembered for generations to 
come.
  On a personal note, I was so honored to know Attorney Jock Smith. I 
admired his great oratorical skill and legal brilliance. I was inspired 
by his tenacious spirit and passion for service to others. I know that 
he forged the path upon which I now walk, and for that I am eternally 
grateful.
  Jock Smith lived out the meaning of his favorite quote: ``Service is 
the price we pay for the space that we occupy.''
  It is with tremendous pride and a great privilege to honor on this 
day, February 2, 2012, the life and contributions of Attorney Jock 
Michael Smith with this tribute on the floor of the U.S. House of 
Representatives. On behalf of the State of Alabama and this nation, I 
ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of 
Attorney Jock Smith by paying our fair share for the space that we 
occupy.

                          ____________________