DaSean Jones (born August 12, 1978) is a Texas District Court Judge in Harris County, Texas.[1][2] As a member of the Democratic Party, he has been the judge of the Texas 180th District Court since 2019.[1]

DaSean Jones
Judge of the Texas 180th District Court
Assumed office
August 5, 2019
Personal details
Born (1978-08-12) August 12, 1978 (age 46)
Georgetown, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationTuskegee University (BA)
Webster University (MA)
Texas Southern University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service2001–present
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Awards

Jones is running for the 2024 Texas Supreme Court Place 2 election against incumbent Jimmy Blacklock.

Early life and education

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Jones was born and raised in Georgetown, South Carolina.[3] From an early age, Jones was influenced by his father, a U.S. Army veteran. Jones began his higher education at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, graduating in May 2001.[4] Following his undergraduate studies, Jones furthered his education at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership, graduating in March 2006.[4]

Jones then attended Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree, graduating in May 2011.[5] During law school, he was involved in extracurricular activities, including participating in the Navy JAG National Moot Court Competition. He also served as President of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.[6]

Career

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Military Service

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Jones began his professional career in the U.S. Army, where he served as a Field Artillery officer.[7] In 2022, he was appointed as a USAR Military Judge, becoming the only African American male serving in this capacity across all five military branches.[8] Jones continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve's Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where he currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.[9][10] During his military service, he attended the Military Judge’s Course, Airborne School, Field Artillery Basic Course, Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, and the Command General Staff College.

Public Service

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Following his active duty military service, Jones transitioned to a legal career, where he worked as a trial lawyer with a focus on civil rights litigation.[11] He represented clients in various legal matters, including the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Texas Labor Code, personal injury, criminal defense, and military separation boards.[12][13][14] Cases in his career include the "Gaslamp" racial discrimination lawsuit[15] and a Texas Whistleblower Act case against Oakbend Medical Center.[15][16] In addition to his legal practice, Jones has contributed to legal education as an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where he teaches trial advocacy.[17][18]

Judicial Service

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On November 6, 2018, Jones was elected as the District Judge for the 180th Criminal District Court in Harris County, Texas, a position previously held by former Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos.[19] He was re-elected for a second term on November 8, 2022.[20]

Personal life

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Jones is married to Audia Jones, an attorney, entrepreneur, and legal counsellor.[21][22] At the time of their marriage, Audia served as a Counsel Fellow for Sheila Jackson Lee, managing the House Judiciary Committee portfolio.[23]

Awards and honors

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Jone's awards and decorations include:[4]

Award Description
Combat Action Badge
  Bronze Star Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
  Meritorious Service Medal
  Global War on Terrorism
  Global War Expeditionary
  Army Commendation Medal (3OLC)
  Army Achievement Medal (1OLC)
  Overseas Ribbon
  Korea Defense Service Medal
Overseas Training Ribbon
  National Defense Service Ribbon
  Parachutist Badge

References

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  1. ^ a b "Houstonians Grow Increasingly Impatient with Pro-Criminal Judges Like DaSean Jones, National Police Association". National Police Association. 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  2. ^ "DaSean Jones, Texas District Court: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  3. ^ "Dasean Jones, candidate for Texas Justice, Supreme Court". Dallas News. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  4. ^ a b c Stories, Local (2019-07-10). "Meet Judge DaSean Jones in Downtown - Voyage Houston Magazine | Houston City Guide". voyagehouston.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  5. ^ "The Honorable DaSean Jones - Texas State Directory Online". www.txdirectory.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  6. ^ U.S. Department of the Navy. "Judge Advocate General's Corps" (PDF). The Navy Lawyer. 2.
  7. ^ "DaSean Jones". Hays Dems. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  8. ^ "The United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps". www.jagcnet.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  9. ^ "Judge Dasean Jones, Hires Downtown Oliver Brown to Answer Lawsuit Brought by Tami Pierce by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications - Issuu". issuu.com. 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  10. ^ "Who is Dasean Jones? - Texas - Texas Democrat". lykelect.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  11. ^ Inc, Justia. "DaSean A. Jones". lawyers.justia.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Inc, Justia. "DaSean A. Jones". lawyers.justia.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ "Justex". www.justex.net. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  14. ^ "Judge DaSean Jones". Trellis. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  15. ^ a b "DOJ files discrimination lawsuit against Midtown bar owners". khou.com. 2016-09-28. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  16. ^ "ENDICOTT v. OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER et al (4:16-cv-01835), Texas Southern District Court". www.pacermonitor.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  17. ^ "Our recommendation in the Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court, Place 2". Dallas News. 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  18. ^ "Pearland Lawyers - Compare Top Attorneys in Pearland, Texas - Justia". www.justia.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  19. ^ "2024 – Supreme Court, Place 2 | Texas Judges". texasjudges.org. 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  20. ^ "Dan Simons, is running for Harris County District Attorney Against Sean Teare by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications - Issuu". issuu.com. 2024-06-26. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  21. ^ "In Texas, D.A. Who Promised Reform Now Faces Challenge From The Left". theappeal.org. 2019-03-07. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  22. ^ Hubbard, Tarren HubbardTarren (2012-06-07). "Former Texas Tech Football Player Richard Jones Talks Arena League and CD on the Sports Shack [AUDIO]". Talk 1340. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  23. ^ Fernandez, Daniel (2020-02-17). "Audia Jones Wants to Redefine Criminal Justice in Texas". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2024-09-21.