Ex-appeals court judge joins arbitration group

J.D. Smith, who recently retired from the Georgia Court of Appeals, has agreed to join JAMS, the mediation and arbitration services provider, the company said.

Smith retired from the appeals court at the end of last year and served as its chief judge from 2003 through 2004. He previously sat in Gainesville as a Superior Court judge for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit. Smith will serve as a mediator, arbitrator and special master for JAMS.