Judge Tarvald Anthony Smith
Deputy Chief Judge for Criminal
Division A
criminal section 5 & civil section 30
Judge Tarvald Anthony Smith is a native of Baton Rouge. He is a 1988 graduate of Scotlandville Magnet High School. In 1991, Judge Smith received a B.S in Economics from Southern University and briefly worked in the banking industry in Dallas, TX. Upon returning to Baton Rouge, he attended Southern University Law Center, and while there he was the Executive Editor of the Southern University Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Board.
After receiving his Juris Doctor in 1995, Judge Smith began his legal career as a Prosecutor with the District Attorney’s Office and continued his career as a Prosecutor with the Attorney General’s Office. During this time, he also maintained a private practice in the area of civil law, which later included personal injury, criminal defense, and probate law.
In March 2004, he was appointed to District 4 to fill a vacancy with the East Baton Rouge School Board. He was elected to fill that seat in September of 2004, and was re-elected in 2007, 2010, and 2014. He also served as Vice President for the School Board from 2010 to 2014. He was also the Public Defender for the City of Baker from 2012 to 2015. Judge Smith first ascended to the bench in November of 2015 after winning the October 2015 election for the “At-Large” Division C at Baton Rouge City Court. In October of 2019, he was elected to fill the Division A seat of the 19th Judicial District Court. There he presides over Criminal Section V.
Professional & Business Affiliations
American Bar Association
Baton Rouge Bar Association
Louisiana State Bar Association
National Bar Association
Civic Affiliations
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated
Louis A. Martinet Legal Society
NAACP