Thomas R. Jones (judge)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Russell Jones Jr. (5 August 1913 - 27 October 2006) was an African-American member of the New York State Assembly
, Justice of the New York Supreme Court
, and leading civil rights
activist for black Americans in slums of northern cities.
Jones was born in Brooklyn
, New York City
to Thomas Sr. and Mabel Ward Jones, immigrants from Barbados
. Jones received his undergraduate and law degrees from St. Johns University, and was admitted to the Bar Association
in 1938. He worked as an activist in anti-fascism
and in 1941 enlisted in the US Army
. As a first lieutenant
he participated in the Normandy invasion in 1944. As an educated lawyer
, he acted as a judge in a martial court in Belgium
. Upon returning to New York, Jones became chief council for the local NAACP branch, mainly involved in cases of police brutality
. In 1962, Jones, a Democrat was elected to state assembly. In 1964, he was elected civil court judge; in 1967 he was elected to state supreme court (note that in New York, the supreme court is not the highest jurisdiction appellate court
).
In 1955, Jones defended three Chinese
immigrant workers
who had been convicted and sentenced to prison for sedition for "helping Communist China" because they had been sending money home to relatives there. The United States Supreme Court declined to hear their appeal. In 1980, Jones delivered a speech in Beijing
about the case and the American
legal system.
Justice Jones worked with Senator
Robert F. Kennedy
in an effort to improve squalor conditions in ghettos and slums in New York. Underestimating Kennedy's genuine desire to help, he said cynically,
Jones became the first president of Kennedy's bipartisan grassroots
community effort, one of two restoration companies (one for community leaders and one for businessmen) that Kennedy helped found for Bedford-Stuyvesant. The objective was to build health clinics, redevelop housing
, build parks and playgrounds, spur commercial activity and investment
, and increase employment
and political participation amongst the residents. In 1967, Jones helped found the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, which grew out of the initial Kennedy effort. The assassination of Kennedy devastated Jones, and led him to focus more on his judicial career instead of community rebuilding
.
Jones retired in 1985. He died of prostate cancer
in 2006.
in the 2002 TV Movie RFK
.
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, Justice of the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
, and leading civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activist for black Americans in slums of northern cities.
Jones was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Thomas Sr. and Mabel Ward Jones, immigrants from Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
. Jones received his undergraduate and law degrees from St. Johns University, and was admitted to the Bar Association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1938. He worked as an activist in anti-fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
and in 1941 enlisted in the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. As a first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
he participated in the Normandy invasion in 1944. As an educated lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, he acted as a judge in a martial court in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Upon returning to New York, Jones became chief council for the local NAACP branch, mainly involved in cases of police brutality
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
. In 1962, Jones, a Democrat was elected to state assembly. In 1964, he was elected civil court judge; in 1967 he was elected to state supreme court (note that in New York, the supreme court is not the highest jurisdiction appellate court
Appellate court
An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of appeals or appeal court , is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal...
).
In 1955, Jones defended three Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
immigrant workers
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
who had been convicted and sentenced to prison for sedition for "helping Communist China" because they had been sending money home to relatives there. The United States Supreme Court declined to hear their appeal. In 1980, Jones delivered a speech in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
about the case and the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
legal system.
Justice Jones worked with Senator
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...
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
in an effort to improve squalor conditions in ghettos and slums in New York. Underestimating Kennedy's genuine desire to help, he said cynically,
"You're another white guy that's out here [in Bedford-Stuyvesant] for the day; you'll be gone and you'll never be seen again. And that's that. We've had enough of that...I'm weary of study, senator. I'm weary of speeches, weary of promises that aren't kept...The Negro people are angry, senator, and, judge that I am, I'm angry too. No one is helping us."
Jones became the first president of Kennedy's bipartisan grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
community effort, one of two restoration companies (one for community leaders and one for businessmen) that Kennedy helped found for Bedford-Stuyvesant. The objective was to build health clinics, redevelop housing
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
, build parks and playgrounds, spur commercial activity and investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
, and increase employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
and political participation amongst the residents. In 1967, Jones helped found the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, which grew out of the initial Kennedy effort. The assassination of Kennedy devastated Jones, and led him to focus more on his judicial career instead of community rebuilding
Community building
Community building is a field of practices directed toward the creation or enhancement of community among individuals within a regional area or with a common interest...
.
Jones retired in 1985. He died of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in 2006.
In Other Media
Jones is portrayed by actor Ving RhamesVing Rhames
Irving Rameses "Ving" Rhames is an American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series.-Early life and education:...
in the 2002 TV Movie RFK
RFK (film)
RFK is an American TV movie directed by Robert Dornhelm released in 2002. It takes place through the eyes of Robert F. Kennedy after his brother John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963. As he lives through the loss, he starts to identify himself as a political figure, not just the former...
.