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

If you ask Carole Smitherman why she’s retiring…”Retirement age is mandatory at 70,” Smitherman said. “So, I’m 70, now why do I have to tell the world that, you know?”It still is — for her — a bittersweet feeling as she now reflects on her legacy after decades behind the bench. “It’s, like, a fun place to work,” Smitherman said. “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. Some of those roles were even historic. “When I first started working here, I was the only Black person,” Smitherman said. “There were two of us in the legal system. And so I’ve watched it grow and mushroom. In …