John S. Smotherman

Mr. Smotherman helped me get permanent and full custody of my daughter and I will forever be grateful. Words cannot express how thankful I am to this man and his God given abilities but I will try. As an African-American male trying to get custody of my then 4 year old daughter, the odds were stacke...d against me. However, Smotherman took the time to listen were others just blew me off. He was able to build and executed one of the best defenses I have ever seen. The case centered around the facts that the mother was actively alienating me from my daughter's life by hiding her from me during my visitations weekends. Every 1st, 3rd and 5th weekend I would drive form Odessa, TX to Dallas, TX, a 6 hour drive one way, just to see my daughter. I had never missed a visitation or a child support payment. The mother was even harassing the schools to keep me from seeing my daughter at lunch time. The mother even had me removed from being able to see her at her after school daycare were I was tutoring my daughter and helping her with school work. The mother also created false allegations that my wife and I were physically and sexually abusive to my daughter and all these allegation where proven false.The mother was later convicted of felony custodial interference. Throughout the entire two year process (the Judge dying in the case, several reset dates and having to deal with a defense attorney that would do anything to win and in my opinion no professional at times) Smotherman never lost his composure and remained a man of integrity even when faced with shady dealings from the defense. He remained true to his Christian identity....He was fair and timely with his responses...and always professional. Mr. Smotherman is the type of person who has a passion for justice and helping others. This case had so many sides and it was so deep (before Smotherman the case had already taken a year) that literally no other attorney would take my case. I prayed for someone to help me and spent my days calling and writing attorneys only to receive countless "No"s. However, Mr. Smotherman said, "Yes" and that has made all the difference. I cannot say thank you enough. Today, marks the day the child custody case is officially closed and the final orders have been signed. This man has given me my life back and a chance to be a full-time father to my daughter something I did not have the privilege of having. I always promised myself that when I had kids, I would not be like my dad, an absentee father, I was going to be there for my kids and now I can keep that promise to my daughter and myself.