Smith to replace retired Bay County Court Judge Joe Grammer

Tracy Smith, the State Attorney’s Office Chief Prosecutor for Gulf County, has been selected to fill an open Bay County judgeship.

Gov.  Ron DeSantis announced that Smith will fill the Bay County opening created with the recent retirement of County Judge Joe Grammer.  Grammer, also a former prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office, retired after 15 years on the bench.

“I am very humbled and honored by this appointment,” Smith said. “I look forward to serving the citizens of Bay County as their next judge.”

Larry Basford, State Attorney for the 14th Judicial Circuit that covers Bay, Gulf, Jackson, Washington, Holmes and Calhoun counties, said it was more evidence that good work is rewarded.

“Ms. Smith's experience as a prosecutor and as a civil litigator has prepared her to be an excellent judge,” Basford said.

Basford noted Smith is the third prosecutor in 3 years from the circuit to be appointed to a judgeship by the governor.

Circuit Court Judge Devin Collier was appointed in 2022, and Circuit Court Judge Brandon Young was appointed in 2021.

Smith was one of four candidates whose names were submitted to the governor by the Florida Bar’s Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the position.

The JNC found all 4 to be “highly qualified and more than capable to fill the position available.”

Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

For additional information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov or 850-381-7454.SAO’s Tracy Smith appointed judgeship