Born: May 15, 1968, Florence, SC
Family: Son of G. Murrell and Jody Hill Smith
Married Macaulay White on October 16, 2004
Children: Mary Brown “Bee” and George Murrell III
Education: Wofford College, B.A., 1990; University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., 1993
Career:
- Young, Young and Reiter, 1993-98
- Part-time Assistant Public Defender, 1995-98
- Partner, Lee, Erter, Wilson, Holler and Smith, LLC, 1998-
- Partner, Smith Robinson, 2019-
Bio
The Honorable G. Murrell Smith, Jr. is an attorney and current Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Smith is a native of Florence, South Carolina and grew up in Sumter, where he graduated from Wilson Hall in 1986. He attended Wofford College and graduated in 1990, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History and Government. After earning his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1993, Smith began practicing law in his hometown while simultaneously serving as a part-time public defender from 1994-1998.
Smith later joined the practice of Lee, Erter, Wilson, Holler & Smith, where his focus evolved to insurance defense, automobile claims, and medical malpractice defense. Since 2019, he has been a partner at Smith Robinson where he has a presence representing clients in virtually every county in the state.
In 2000, Smith was elected to represent District 67 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He began his political career as a member of the House Judiciary Committee where he eventually rose to the position of first vice chairman. Starting in 2009, he served on the House Ways and Means Committee and was named Chairman of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee in 2012. In 2018, Smith was elected as Chairman of the South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee. Smith also served as the Chairman of the House Ethics Committee until 2021 and was on the South Carolina Judicial Merit Selection Commission until 2022. On April 28, 2022, Smith was elected to be the 61st Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, and he began his term on May 12, 2022.
Smith has been married to his wife, Macaulay, for 18 years and they have two children together: Mary Brown “Bee” and George Murrell III. Smith enjoys an active presence in Sumter, where he resides, and is a longtime member of the Sumter Rotary Club and the First Presbyterian Church.
Accomplishments
-2022 American Legion Department of South Carolina Special Legislative Award
-2022 Coalition for Access to Health Care Legislator of the Year
-2022, 2021 National Coalition for Public School Options Golden Apple Award, Legislative Champion
-2022, 2021, 2020 The Sumter Item “Best of Sumter” Best Elected Official
-2021 South Carolina Advocates for Agriculture Advocate of the Year
-2021 Best Lawyers in America Nominee
-2021 South Carolina Association of Clerks of Court and Registers of Deeds Legislator of the Year
-2020 Behavioral Health Services Association of South Carolina Ambassador of the Year
-2020 Clemson University Board of Visitors Legislative Leadership Award
-2020 American Board of Trial Advocates Member
-2019 South Carolina Telehealth Alliance President’s Award for Transformation of Healthcare Delivery
-2019 Lawyer’s Weekly Leadership in Law Honoree
-2019 South Carolina Association of Community Economic Development Legislator of the Year
-2018 Easterseals South Carolina Legislator of the Year
-2018 Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Solomon Award
-2018 United Way South Carolina Common Good Award for Health
-2017 Medical University of South Carolina Healthy Communities Award
-2017 Behavioral Health Services Association of South Carolina Legislator of the Year
-2015 Conservation Voters of South Carolina Green Tie Award
-2015 Council of Governments House Legislator of Year
-2015 South Carolina Medical Association Legislator of the Year
-2014 Sierra Club Legislator of the Year
-2014, 2015 Behavioral Health Services Association Legislator of the Year
-2014 Medical University of South Carolina Honorary Degree Recipient, Doctor of
Humane Letters
-2013 Community Health Center Champion Award
-2013 South Carolina Primary Health Care Association Award
-2013 South Carolina Human Services Provider’s Association Legislator of the Year
-2013 South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Legislation Award
-2009 South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense Distinguished Service Award
-2008 Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Achievement Award
-2008 Arson Investigators’ Legislator of the Year
-2008 South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police’s House Member of the Year
-2008 The State Newspaper Top 20 under 40 Award
-2007 South Carolina Public Defender Association Legislator of the Year
-2007 Gun Owners of South Carolina Daniel Award
-2007 Humane Society Legislator of the Year
-2005 South Carolina Solicitor’s Association Legislator of the Year
-2005 Victim’s Assistance Network Legislator of the Year
-2005 SC Prosecution Coordination Commission Legislator of the Year
-2003 Wilson Hall Alumni of Year