C. Darnell Jones II facts for kids

Cardozie Darnell Jones II (born November 23, 1949) is an important judge in the United States. He serves as a senior district judge for the federal court in Eastern Pennsylvania. This means he helps decide important cases in that area.

Becoming a Judge: C. Darnell Jones II's Journey

C. Darnell Jones II was born in Claremore, Oklahoma. He studied French at Southwestern College, earning his degree in 1972. Later, he went to American University Washington College of Law and became a lawyer in 1975.

After law school, he worked for the Defender Association of Philadelphia from 1975 to 1987. This organization helps people who cannot afford a lawyer. He also taught law at several universities, including St. Joseph's University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. From 1998 to 2008, he taught judges how to handle difficult cases at The National Judicial College.

Serving in Philadelphia Courts

In 1987, C. Darnell Jones II became a judge for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, known as the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He was one of five judges, sometimes called the "Casey Five," who won elections to join the court that year.

He served on this court for many years, from 1987 to 2008. From 2006 to 2008, he was the President Judge. This meant he was in charge of coordinating all the courts in that judicial district. During his time, he handled many different types of cases, including serious criminal cases and major civil lawsuits. He also worked as a special judge for business-related cases.

As President Judge, Jones helped create a program to help people avoid losing their homes during the 2008 housing crisis. This program, called the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program, was very successful.

Becoming a Federal Judge

On July 24, 2008, President George W. Bush chose Jones to become a federal judge. He was approved by the United States Senate and officially became a judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on October 30, 2008.

On March 15, 2021, Judge Jones took on a new role as a senior judge. This means he still works for the court but with a reduced caseload.

Author and Educator

Beyond his work in the courtroom, Judge Jones has also shared his knowledge by writing. In 2020, he helped write a book for judges called Presiding Over a Capital Case, An Electronic Benchbook for Judges. He co-authored chapters about how to manage and prepare for very serious criminal cases. He had also helped write an earlier version of this book in 2009.

Awards and Recognition

Judge Jones has received many honors for his work. In 2023, he was given the Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Distinguished Jurist Award. This award is for judges who show the highest ideals of service and have a positive impact on justice in Philadelphia. When he received the award, he mentioned that helping people affected by Hurricane Katrina was one of the most important decisions he ever made.

In 2005, Lawdragon magazine recognized him as one of the 500 leading judges in America. He has also been inducted into the Claremore Hall of Fame in his hometown of Claremore, Oklahoma, in both 1995 and 2018.

See also

• List of African-American federal judges
• List of African-American jurists