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{{short description|American politician}}
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Murrell Smith
| name = Murrell Smith
|image = Murrell Smith (cropped).png
| image = Murrell Smith (cropped).png
|office = 61st [[Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives]]
| office = 61st [[Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives]]
|term_start = May 12, 2022
| term_start = May 12, 2022
|term_end =
| term_end =
|predecessor = [[Jay Lucas]]
| predecessor = [[Jay Lucas]]
|successor =
| successor =
|state_house1 = South Carolina
| state_house1 = South Carolina
|district1 = 67th
| district1 = 67th
|term_start1 = January 3, 2001
| term_start1 = January 3, 2001
|term_end1 =
| term_end1 =
|predecessor1 = Mac McLeod
| predecessor1 = Mac McLeod
|successor1 =
| successor1 =
|birth_name = George Murrell Smith Jr.
| birth_name = George Murrell Smith Jr.
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|5|15}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|5|15}}
|birth_place = [[Florence, South Carolina]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Florence, South Carolina]], U.S.
|death_date =
| death_date =
|death_place =
| death_place =
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|education = [[Wofford College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of South Carolina]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| education = [[Wofford College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of South Carolina]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| occupation = Attorney, politician
| parents = G. Murrell, Jody Hill Smith
| spouse = Macaulay White (m: October 16, 2004)
| children = 2 children, Mary Brown "Bee" and George Murrell III
}}
}}
'''George Murrell Smith Jr.''' (born May 15, 1968) is an [[American people|American]] politician and the 61st [[Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives]].
'''George Murrell Smith Jr.''' (born May 15, 1968) is an [[American people|American]] politician and the 61st [[Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives]]. Since 2001, he has represented the 67th district of [[South Carolina]] for [[Sumter, South Carolina|Sumter]] and [[Sumter County, South Carolina|Sumter County]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1703408887 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=www.scstatehouse.gov}}</ref>


Born in [[Florence, South Carolina]], Smith spent the majority of his childhood in [[Sumter, South Carolina]], where he attended Wilson Hall School. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at [[Wofford College]], where he completed his [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in Forms of Government in 1990. After earning his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from the [[University of South Carolina School of Law]] in 1993, Smith began practicing law in his hometown of Sumter: first as a public defender and later as partner at Lee, Erter, Wilson, Holler & Smith, LLC.
Born in [[Florence, South Carolina]], Smith spent the majority of his childhood in Sumter, South Carolina, where he attended Wilson Hall School. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at [[Wofford College]], where he completed his [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in Forms of Government in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-28 |title=Rep. Murrell Smith elected as new SC House speaker |url=https://www.counton2.com/news/south-carolina-news/rep-murrell-smith-elected-as-new-sc-house-speaker/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=WCBD News 2 |language=en-US}}</ref> After earning his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from the [[University of South Carolina School of Law]] in 1993, Smith began practicing law in his hometown of Sumter: first as a public defender and later as partner at Lee, Erter, Wilson, Holler & Smith, LLC.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-04-28 |title=South Carolina House elects new speaker |url=https://www.wbtw.com/news/state-regional-news/south-carolina-house-elects-new-speaker/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=WBTW |language=en-US}}</ref>


He was elected to the [[South Carolina House of Representatives]] from the 67th District in 2001, and has held this seat since. He is a member of the Republican Party.<ref>{{cite web|title=Murrel Smith|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/121732/murrell-smith-jr|publisher=Project Vote Smart|access-date=April 25, 2015}}</ref> On December 5, 2018, Smith was appointed by Speaker of the House [[Jay Lucas]] as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Smith previously served as chairman of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee and has sat on the House Ways and Means Committee since 2009.
He was elected to the [[South Carolina House of Representatives]] from the 67th District in 2001, and has held this seat since. He is a member of the [[South Carolina Republican Party|Republican Party.]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Murrel Smith|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/121732/murrell-smith-jr|publisher=Project Vote Smart|access-date=April 25, 2015}}</ref> In his time as a representative, he has mostly run in uncontested races, barring [[Libertarian Party of South Carolina|Libertarian Party]] challenger, Brandon Humphries, whom he overwhelmingly defeated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-06 |title=Sumter's Smith handily beats first opponent since being elected to House |url=https://www.theitem.com/stories/smith-handily-beats-first-opponent-since-being-elected,317797 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=The Sumter Item |language=en}}</ref>

On December 5, 2018, Smith was appointed as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee by Speaker of the House [[Jay Lucas]].<ref name=":0" /> Smith previously served as chairman of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee and has sat on the House Ways and Means Committee since 2009.


In April 2022, he was elected unanimously by the House to succeed Jay Lucas as Speaker of the House of Representatives. He assumed office on May 12, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=Mary |title=SC House unanimously elects next Speaker |url=https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/28/sc-house-elects-next-speaker-unanimously/ |website=WISTV |publisher=WISTV |access-date=29 April 2022}}</ref>
In April 2022, he was elected unanimously by the House to succeed Jay Lucas as Speaker of the House of Representatives. He assumed office on May 12, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=Mary |title=SC House unanimously elects next Speaker |url=https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/28/sc-house-elects-next-speaker-unanimously/ |website=WISTV |publisher=WISTV |access-date=29 April 2022}}</ref>

Since ''[[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]]'', Smith has been vocal in his support for restricting access to abortion in the state of South Carolina. After the [[South Carolina Supreme Court]] voted 3-2 to nullify a 6-week abortion ban, Smith criticized the court as creating “a constitutional right to an abortion where none exists.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-05 |title=South Carolina Supreme Court strikes down state abortion ban |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/south-carolina-supreme-court-strikes-down-state-abortion-ban |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 02:03, 8 April 2024

Murrell Smith
61st Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 12, 2022
Preceded byJay Lucas
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 67th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2001
Preceded byMac McLeod
Personal details
Born
George Murrell Smith Jr.

(1968-05-15) May 15, 1968 (age 56)
Florence, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMacaulay White (m: October 16, 2004)
Children2 children, Mary Brown "Bee" and George Murrell III
Parent(s)G. Murrell, Jody Hill Smith
EducationWofford College (BA)
University of South Carolina (JD)
OccupationAttorney, politician

George Murrell Smith Jr. (born May 15, 1968) is an American politician and the 61st Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Since 2001, he has represented the 67th district of South Carolina for Sumter and Sumter County.[1]

Born in Florence, South Carolina, Smith spent the majority of his childhood in Sumter, South Carolina, where he attended Wilson Hall School. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at Wofford College, where he completed his B.A. in Forms of Government in 1990.[2] After earning his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1993, Smith began practicing law in his hometown of Sumter: first as a public defender and later as partner at Lee, Erter, Wilson, Holler & Smith, LLC.[3]

He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 67th District in 2001, and has held this seat since. He is a member of the Republican Party.[4] In his time as a representative, he has mostly run in uncontested races, barring Libertarian Party challenger, Brandon Humphries, whom he overwhelmingly defeated.[5]

On December 5, 2018, Smith was appointed as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee by Speaker of the House Jay Lucas.[3] Smith previously served as chairman of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee and has sat on the House Ways and Means Committee since 2009.

In April 2022, he was elected unanimously by the House to succeed Jay Lucas as Speaker of the House of Representatives. He assumed office on May 12, 2022.[6]

Since Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Smith has been vocal in his support for restricting access to abortion in the state of South Carolina. After the South Carolina Supreme Court voted 3-2 to nullify a 6-week abortion ban, Smith criticized the court as creating “a constitutional right to an abortion where none exists.”[7]

References

  1. ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  2. ^ "Rep. Murrell Smith elected as new SC House speaker". WCBD News 2. 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  3. ^ a b "South Carolina House elects new speaker". WBTW. 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  4. ^ "Murrel Smith". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  5. ^ "Sumter's Smith handily beats first opponent since being elected to House". The Sumter Item. 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  6. ^ Greene, Mary. "SC House unanimously elects next Speaker". WISTV. WISTV. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  7. ^ "South Carolina Supreme Court strikes down state abortion ban". PBS NewsHour. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
2022–present 		Incumbent


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