Judge Carole Smitherman reflects on her legacy ahead of her retirement [Video]

Judge Carole Smitherman is retiring from a decades-long historic career as a Jefferson County public servant. She said it is a bittersweet feeling as she reflects on her legacy. “It’s a fun place to work,” Smitherman said about her time on the bench. “And so, I’ve been here on and off for about 50 years, and that’s what I celebrate the longevity, the legacy, all the things that make me who I am.”At the forefront of who Smitherman is, is a dedicated public servant who has worn many hats in her hometown of Birmingham. >> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13She was the first Black woman hired as the deputy district attorney in Jefferson County and the first Black woman municipal and circuit court judge in Birmingham.”When I first started working here, I was the only Black person,” Smitherman said. “There were two of us in the legal system. …