New York State Executive Chamber | Governor Eliot Spitzer

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GOVERNOR NOMINATES THE HONORABLE THEODORE T. JONES, JR. TO THE COURT OF APPEALS

Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced the nomination of State Supreme Court Justice Theodore T. Jones, Jr. to serve as an Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals.

"Justice Jones will bring his experience and unquestioned integrity to the Court of Appeals," said Governor Spitzer. "He has earned the trust and respect of all those who have worked with him throughout his years of service. I know he will bring his deep respect for the law as well as his sense of duty to the public to this new role."

"It is an honor to be nominated for this esteemed position," said Justice Jones. "I am humbled by the trust placed in me and I will do my best to live up to that great responsibility."

Justice Jones is a Supreme Court Justice for the Second Judicial Department and currently serves as the Administrative Judge of the Civil Term of Supreme Court in Kings County. He was first elected to Supreme Court in 1989, and he was re-elected in 2003. While on the bench, Justice Jones has served as both a Criminal Term judge and a Civil Term judge.

Justice Jones was born in Brooklyn. He was graduated from Hampton University and St. John’s University School of Law. He also served on active duty with the United States Army, stationed in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. Before he was elected to Supreme Court, Justice Jones worked as a criminal defense attorney for the Legal Aid Society, a Law Secretary for Judge Howard A. Jones of the New York State Court of Claims, and a private practitioner.

Justice Jones lives in New City with his wife, Joan. They have two grown children, Wesley and Theodore.

The Governor nominated Justice Jones to fill a vacancy that was created by the retirement of the Honorable Albert M. Rosenblatt on December 31, 2006. On November 30, the Commission on Judicial Nomination nominated seven individuals that it found well-qualified to fill the vacancy. By law, the Governor was required to nominate one of those individuals by January 15. The Governor's nomination is subject to the advice and consent of the New York State Senate, which must confirm or reject the nomination within thirty days of receiving it.