James Bayard Smith, an attorney who began his law practice in Metuchen in 1974, died on Tuesday at JFK Haven Hospice in Edison surrounded by his family. He was born in New Brunswick and graduated from Rutgers Preparatory School, Rutgers University Class of 1964 and received his Jurist Doctorate from Rutgers Law School in 1967.

He was a distinguished military graduate of R.O.T.C. and entered the Army in 1964 as a Second Lieutenant which began a 30 year career of appointments and retirement as a full Colonel. In 1969-1970 he saw active service in Southeast Asia and received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal among others. New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman awarded Col. Smith the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his service as an Army Captain in Vietnam. Before his Army retirement in 1994 he was Acting Commander of 1182nd Reinforcement Training Unit in Edison, NJ.

James was a Municipal Court Judge in Metuchen, Old Bridge and Dunellen. He was the Attorney for Metuchen Parking Authority, Metuchen Board of Education, Special Counsel for Middlesex County, Adjunct Professor of Law Berkeley College and Arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau.

James was President of both the Middlesex County Bar Association and Middlesex County Municipal Judges Association. He was an assistant US Attorney, District of New Jersey and received the U.S. Attorney General's Special Commendation for Outstanding Service. He also received the Secretary of Defense's Letter of Appreciation. He has 12 published articles and 13 significant cases resulting in published opinions. He was the author of a book; "Faithful to the Obligations of Honor" which he dedicated to his wife and sons.

Surviving are his loving wife of 42 years, Norma Jean Faggioni Smith, was the beloved father of J. Bayard Smith, Jr. and his wife, Leah of Metuchen and David Cathers Smith of Dunellen and loving grandfather to Emma and James, III.