U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE BERNARD JONES ADDRESSES FRIENDS, FAMILY, COLLEAGUES AND SUPPORTERS DURING HIS INVESTITURE CEREMONY.
Making a difference Jones grew up in northeast Oklahoma City, graduating from Bishop McGuinness High School and earning his undergraduate degree at Southern Methodist University and juris doctorate from Notre Dame Law School. Though Jones said at the time he wanted a one-way ticket out of Oklahoma, watching the capital city transform thanks to MAPS began to change his mind about Oklahoma City becoming a place he could return to. “At 5 p.m. on a Friday, Oklahoma City used to be a ghost town,” recalls Jones. “Now with the housing options, restaurants, parks, the arts, opportunities for business and families, I stand in awe at the investment we are making. It’s a testament to our leadership but also to our beliefs in ourselves as a city.” After working in a Columbus law firm for a few years, Jones was recruited to return to Oklahoma City to work for McAfee & Taft and then served as a dean for Oklahoma City University School of Law. Jones served the state of Oklahoma first as a district judge for Oklahoma’s seventh judicial district, overseeing, initially, the family and domestic relations docket and later the civil docket. Jones has always approached his judicial position with the intent to make a difference, not just in terms of his rulings but in the relationships people develop with the court.
“I want everyone, regardless of the case outcome, to leave feeling as if they were treated with dignity and respect,” said Jones. “I want them to know [I] treated them like a person and was not influenced by anything other than the law.” Throughout Jones’ career, he’s aspired to treat everyone equally using the rule of the law as his measure, but, once a ruling has been determined, that doesn’t negate his commitment to offer compassion in his delivery. Jones is obligated to apply the law and mandate punishment as necessary, but he believes he also has a responsibility to communicate that in a way that will ultimately help those who find themselves in his courtroom. “It’s not just about penalizing but rehabilitation,” Jones explained of his hope to positively influence citizens toward growing into productive members of society. Doing what is right While Jones was a state district judge, a 2014 case over a high school football playoff game between Douglass and Locust Grove drew national attention. The game was allegedly botched by referees, resulting in Douglass’ loss, so Oklahoma City Public School District took the case to court to request the game be replayed.
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 11
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