Jerrauld Jones

Jerrauld Jones
Jerrauld Corey Jones in judicial robes
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 89th district
In office
January 13, 1988 – June 5, 2002
Preceded byYvonne B. Miller
Succeeded byKenny Alexander
Personal details
BornJerrauld Corey Jones
(1954-07-22)July 22, 1954
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMay 31, 2025(2025-05-31) (aged 70)
PartyDemocratic
SpouseLyn Simmons
ChildrenJay Jones
Alma materPrinceton University (BA)
Washington & Lee University (JD)
ProfessionLawyer

Jerrauld Corey Jones (July 22, 1954 – May 31, 2025) was an American politician and jurist. He was a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1988 to 2002, representing the 89th District in Norfolk. In 2002, Jones was made Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice under Governor Mark Warner.[1] He then served as a judge as a judge in the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, before ultimately becoming a judge of the Norfolk Circuit Court. He remains one of few people in Virginia history to served in all three branches of state government.[1] He was also a second generation member of his family to have served in politics, including at the statewide level.[1]

Early life

Jones was one of three sons born to Hilary Jones Jr., his father, and Corinne Davis Jones, his mother.[2] Jones' father was a prominent African-American lawyer in Norfolk during the 1950s, the era of massive resistance to school integration in Virginia, and who also became the first Black person to serve as a member of the Norfolk School Board.[3][2][4] His mother was a school teacher who was also instrumental in Norfolk school integration.[2]. In 1961, under their mother's guidance, young Jerrauld and his brother Hilary III both integrated Ingleside Elementary School in Norfolk.[2] In 1967, he went on to integrate the private Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg.[5] In 1969, Hilary Jones Jr. was appointed to the Virginia state Board of Education, becoming the first Black person to be named to the board in the history of Virginia.[4]

Jones received a B.A. degree cum laude from Princeton University in 1976. In 1980 he graduated from the Washington and Lee University School of Law with a J.D. degree. That same year, he became the first African-American law clerk to the Supreme Court of Virginia.[3] He subsequently returned to Norfolk and served as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for two years before opening up a private law practice. He remained in private practice until 2002, when he became Director of Juvenile Justice.

Political career

In 1987, Jones was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the 89th District when the incumbent, Yvonne Miller, chose to run for the state senate instead. He was reelected seven times, and eventually became a member of the Rules Committee.[6]

In 2001, Jones ran in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He finished third behind the eventual winner, Richmond Mayor Tim Kaine, and Delegate Alan Diamonstein of Newport News.[7] Following this defeat, he ran for reelection to the House, winning his eighth term in November.

In June 2002, Governor Mark Warner appointed Jones state Director of Juvenile Justice until 2005. In this capacity he oversaw all adjudicated youths in the juvenile detention system in Virginia.

Judicial career

In 2005, then-Governor Warner appointed Jones a judge of the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. In October 2008,[8] Governor Kaine appointed him to fill a vacancy on the Norfolk Circuit Court.[9] Jones was elected to a full eight-year term by the legislature during the 2009 General Assembly session and re-elected for a second 8-year term during the 2017 General Assembly session.[10] Amid ongoing health issues, Jones opted to retire from the Norfolk Circuit Court in 2024.[11][12] Jones' widow Lyn, who was still his wife at the time of his,[11] currently serves in the Norfolk circuit court as well, serving as the Chief Judge of the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.[13][14][15]

Death

Jones died May 31, 2025, at the age of 70.[16] In November 2025, Jones would be honored by his son Jay in his victory speech after winning the 2025 Virginia Attorney General election.[17] His widow Lyn, herself a judge, would afterwards swear their son Jay, who became the first Black Virginia Attorney General,[1] into office on January 17, 2026.[14][15]On March 4, 2026, a Virginia Senate resolution honoring Jones would be introduced by Virginia state senator R. Creigh Deeds and soon afterwards get passed by the Virginia Senate on March 10, 2026.[18][19][11]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 "About the Attorney General". oag.state.va.us. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ruegsegger, Gary (July 2018). "Corinne Davis Jones: A Norfolk Legend". The New Journal & Guide. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Flynn, Barry (February 6, 1995). "High Profile: Q&A: Jerrauld C. Jones". Hampton Roads Daily Press. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "About the Attorney General". oag.state.va.us. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Jerrauld C. Jones". Dominion, Inc. 2002. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Virginia House of Delegates; Session 2002; Jerrauld C. Jones". Virginia House of Delegates. 2002. Archived from the original on 2014-10-20. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  7. ↑ "Commonwealth of Virginia; June 12, 2001-Primary Election". Virginia State Board of Elections. 2001. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  8. ↑ "Kaine appoints three to Norfolk Circuit Court". The Virginian-Pilot. October 8, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative; JDAI Newsmakers". The Annie E. Casey Foundation. Dec 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  10. ↑ "Bill Tracking - 2017 session > Legislation". lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved Mar 4, 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 "2026 Session : Senate Resolution No. 97 : Introduced". Virginia Senate. March 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ https://valawyersweekly.com/2025/06/04/judge-jerrauld-jones-virginia-death/
  13. ↑ "Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court". 4th Judicial District of Virginia. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Video: Jay Jones is sworn in as attorney by his mother Lynn M. Simmons". Richmond Times Dispatch. January 17, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  15. 1 2 "WATCH LIVE: Abigail Spanberger inaugurated as Virginia's first woman governor". PBS. January 17, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  16. ↑ Cain, Andrew (May 31, 2025). "Jerrauld Jones dies, Norfolk judge, former state delegate". richmond.com. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  17. ↑ "FULL VIDEO: Jay Jones victory speech as attorney general-elect". Fox 5 Washington D.C. November 4, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  18. ↑ "2026 Regular Session : SR97 : Celebrating the life of the Honorable Jerrauld C. Jones". Virginia Senate. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  19. ↑ "2026 Session : Senate Resolution NO. 97 : Enrolled". Virginia Senate. March 24, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
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