James Parker Jones
Encyclopedia
James Parker Jones is a United States federal judge
who currently is the chief judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
.
. He received an A.B.
from Duke University
in 1962. He received an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law
in 1965.
, Hon. Clement Haynsworth, U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit from 1966 to 1968. He was in private practice in Abingdon, Virginia
from 1968 to 1971. He was in private practice in Bristol, Virginia
from 1971 to 1995. He was a Virginia state senator from 1983 to 1988. He was also a member of the Virginia State Board of Education
from 1990 to 1996.
. However, his nomination never was processed by the United States Senate before Carter lost his bid for re-election, and President Reagan later chose not to renominate Jones to the seat.
after President Bill Clinton
nominated him on December 12, 1995, to fill the seat vacated by James Harry Michael Jr.
, who had taken senior status
.
The United States Senate
confirmed Jones on July 18, 1996, and he received his commission on August 1, 1996.
Jones has served as his court's chief judge since 2004.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
who currently is the chief judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is a United States district court.Appeals from the Western District of Virginia are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (in...
.
Early life and education
Jones was born in Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. He received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1962. He received an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
in 1965.
Professional career
Jones was an Assistant commonwealth attorney general of Virginia from 1965 to 1966. He was a law clerkLaw clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
, Hon. Clement Haynsworth, U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit from 1966 to 1968. He was in private practice in Abingdon, Virginia
Abingdon, Virginia
Abingdon is a town in Washington County, Virginia, USA, 133 miles southwest of Roanoke. The population was 8,191 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Washington County and is a designated Virginia Historic Landmark...
from 1968 to 1971. He was in private practice in Bristol, Virginia
Bristol, Virginia
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Washington County, Virginia, Bristol, Tennessee, and Sullivan County, Tennessee....
from 1971 to 1995. He was a Virginia state senator from 1983 to 1988. He was also a member of the Virginia State Board of Education
Virginia State Board of Education
The Virginia State Board of Education is an independent board established by the state of Virginia in the United States which helps set state elementary and secondary educational policy, advocates within state government for elementary and secondary education, administers some state educational...
from 1990 to 1996.
Failed district court nomination
On May 16, 1979, President Carter nominated Jones to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of VirginiaUnited States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is a United States district court.Appeals from the Western District of Virginia are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (in...
. However, his nomination never was processed by the United States Senate before Carter lost his bid for re-election, and President Reagan later chose not to renominate Jones to the seat.
Federal judicial service
Jones eventually became a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of VirginiaUnited States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is a United States district court.Appeals from the Western District of Virginia are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (in...
after President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
nominated him on December 12, 1995, to fill the seat vacated by James Harry Michael Jr.
James Harry Michael Jr.
James Harry Michael Jr. was a United States federal judge.Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Michael received a B.S. from the University of Virginia in 1940 and an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1942. He was in the United States Navy Lieutenant from 1942 to 1946...
, who had taken senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
.
The United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
confirmed Jones on July 18, 1996, and he received his commission on August 1, 1996.
Jones has served as his court's chief judge since 2004.