Ernest M. Jones Jr.
Ernest M. Jones Jr.
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By ERIC PERA
THE LEDGER
Lawyers responding to this year's Ledger bar survey gave Circuit Judge Ernest Jones Jr. high marks for his courtroom humor, cordiality and even-handed temperament.
Critics said Jones, ranked 17th out of 25 circuit judges, could do better at being impartial.
"(Jones) takes cases from attorneys and asks too many questions of litigants," one lawyer said.
Jones said some of the criticism is valid. "I guess I'm a little impatient sometimes to get to the point."
Jones' average score was 7.43 out of a possible 10. His highest score of 7.74 was for professional conduct; his lowest, 7.25, was for written decisions, which he found surprising.
"I spend a lot of time on my written decisions," he said. "I'm disappointed, but of course you always like your own writing."
Mostly, respondents were kind to Jones, bumping him up two spots from his 19th finish two years ago, when his overall rating was 7.09.
"Ernie has surprised us with his humor and kindness," one lawyer said. "He tries very hard to reach the right result, and usually does."
Another lawyer said it's "too bad he only has one term," a reference to Jones' age, now 66. His term expires in 2012.
Jones said he's prevented from seeking a second six-year term because of age limits.
He was elected to the bench in November 2006 after more than 20 years in private practice.
Jones taught for several years before earning his law degree from Florida State University in 1979. He clerked for a 2nd District Court of Appeal judge then entered private practice.
Jones and his wife, Christa, live in Lakeland. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.
| 2010 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.43 | 7.37 | 7.37 | 7.25 | 7.74 |
Comments
Open-minded and fair.
Wow, not very good.
Charming and makes an effort to get to know all. Silently observing when engaging others. Needs to let lawyers litigate at and not try to redirect all cases.
Solid but not great.
Good, fair judge.
Ernie has surprised us with his humor and kindness. He tries very hard to reach the right result … and usually does. Too bad he only has one term.
Has found his place.
No question he has his favorites regarding lawyers.
Even tempered.
Needs to focus on objectivity.
Fails to adhere to precedent and statutes in the interest of "fairness."
Seemed to be a better lawyer than a judge.
Conscientious, outstanding judge.
Very cordial and serious-minded. Tries hard to do the right thing.
Fair and reasonable.
Ideal temperament for the bench. Very good judge.
Know him more as an attorney and have had limited contact as judge, so far.
Takes cases from attorneys and asks too many questions of litigants.
Solid jurist.
Up and comer.
Needs to be more involved in professional organizations.
Wow, not very good.
Charming and makes an effort to get to know all. Silently observing when engaging others. Needs to let lawyers litigate at and not try to redirect all cases.
Solid but not great.
Good, fair judge.
Ernie has surprised us with his humor and kindness. He tries very hard to reach the right result … and usually does. Too bad he only has one term.
Has found his place.
No question he has his favorites regarding lawyers.
Even tempered.
Needs to focus on objectivity.
Fails to adhere to precedent and statutes in the interest of "fairness."
Seemed to be a better lawyer than a judge.
Conscientious, outstanding judge.
Very cordial and serious-minded. Tries hard to do the right thing.
Fair and reasonable.
Ideal temperament for the bench. Very good judge.
Know him more as an attorney and have had limited contact as judge, so far.
Takes cases from attorneys and asks too many questions of litigants.
Solid jurist.
Up and comer.
Needs to be more involved in professional organizations.
Article
By ERIC PERA
THE LEDGER
Lawyers responding to this year's Ledger bar survey gave Circuit Judge Ernest Jones Jr. high marks for his courtroom humor, cordiality and even-handed temperament.
Critics said Jones, ranked 17th out of 25 circuit judges, could do better at being impartial.
"(Jones) takes cases from attorneys and asks too many questions of litigants," one lawyer said.
Jones said some of the criticism is valid. "I guess I'm a little impatient sometimes to get to the point."
Jones' average score was 7.43 out of a possible 10. His highest score of 7.74 was for professional conduct; his lowest, 7.25, was for written decisions, which he found surprising.
"I spend a lot of time on my written decisions," he said. "I'm disappointed, but of course you always like your own writing."
Mostly, respondents were kind to Jones, bumping him up two spots from his 19th finish two years ago, when his overall rating was 7.09.
"Ernie has surprised us with his humor and kindness," one lawyer said. "He tries very hard to reach the right result, and usually does."
Another lawyer said it's "too bad he only has one term," a reference to Jones' age, now 66. His term expires in 2012.
Jones said he's prevented from seeking a second six-year term because of age limits.
He was elected to the bench in November 2006 after more than 20 years in private practice.
Jones taught for several years before earning his law degree from Florida State University in 1979. He clerked for a 2nd District Court of Appeal judge then entered private practice.
Jones and his wife, Christa, live in Lakeland. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By ROBIN WILLIAMS ADAMS
THE LEDGER
Ernest McClain Jones Jr., the new kid on the bench in The Ledger's judges poll, ranked 19th out of 25 circuit judges evaluated by local lawyers.
With an overall average of 7.09, professional conduct was his strongest point at 7.39 and written decisions his weakest at 6.83.
Jones, elected in November 2006, serves in the court's dependency unit. He previously was a lawyer specializing in family law.
Written comments by lawyers often took notice of his newcomer status.
"Far exceeded my expectations as a new judge; pleasure to be in front of," one lawyer wrote.
"A new judge, but so far he's doing well," a second said.
Another, however, said "barely won - barely good."
Jones won the election with 50.5 percent of the vote to David Carmichael's 49.5 percent.
For the most part, comments were favorable.
"Extremely fair and patient; gives everyone a fair shake in court," a lawyer said.
"Turned out to be an excellent judge," another said. One said he is doing well, but that he should "work on patience."
Jones, 64, said he considers the comments positive.
"I try hard to be a good judge," he said. "I'm glad I'm perceived that way."
Jones taught for several years after graduating from the University of Florida in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in English. He then went to law school and graduated in 1979 from the Florida State University law college. He clerked for a judge in the 2nd District Court of Appeal for a couple of years after graduating. His current term expires in 2012.
He and his wife, Christa, live in Lakeland. They have three grown children and a 2-year-old granddaughter.
| 2008 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.09 | 6.93 | 7.20 | 6.83 | 7.39 |
Comments
Ernest M. Jones Jr.
A new judge, but so far he's doing well.
Barely won-barely good.
Ernie is doing a good job; extremely fair and patient; gives everyone a fair shake in court.
Far exceeded my expectations as a new judge; pleasure to be in front of.
Good addition to bench.
Good judge.
He has been a little slow in understanding that, due to inadequacies in the system, what he orders is sometimes
not possible to achieve.
Is doing well; Work on patience.
Likely to be a good one with more experience!
Still learning-polite.
Too early to tell; tries hard.
Turned out to be an excellent judge.
Very good judge.
A new judge, but so far he's doing well.
Barely won-barely good.
Ernie is doing a good job; extremely fair and patient; gives everyone a fair shake in court.
Far exceeded my expectations as a new judge; pleasure to be in front of.
Good addition to bench.
Good judge.
He has been a little slow in understanding that, due to inadequacies in the system, what he orders is sometimes
not possible to achieve.
Is doing well; Work on patience.
Likely to be a good one with more experience!
Still learning-polite.
Too early to tell; tries hard.
Turned out to be an excellent judge.
Very good judge.
Article
By ROBIN WILLIAMS ADAMS
THE LEDGER
Ernest McClain Jones Jr., the new kid on the bench in The Ledger's judges poll, ranked 19th out of 25 circuit judges evaluated by local lawyers.
With an overall average of 7.09, professional conduct was his strongest point at 7.39 and written decisions his weakest at 6.83.
Jones, elected in November 2006, serves in the court's dependency unit. He previously was a lawyer specializing in family law.
Written comments by lawyers often took notice of his newcomer status.
"Far exceeded my expectations as a new judge; pleasure to be in front of," one lawyer wrote.
"A new judge, but so far he's doing well," a second said.
Another, however, said "barely won - barely good."
Jones won the election with 50.5 percent of the vote to David Carmichael's 49.5 percent.
For the most part, comments were favorable.
"Extremely fair and patient; gives everyone a fair shake in court," a lawyer said.
"Turned out to be an excellent judge," another said. One said he is doing well, but that he should "work on patience."
Jones, 64, said he considers the comments positive.
"I try hard to be a good judge," he said. "I'm glad I'm perceived that way."
Jones taught for several years after graduating from the University of Florida in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in English. He then went to law school and graduated in 1979 from the Florida State University law college. He clerked for a judge in the 2nd District Court of Appeal for a couple of years after graduating. His current term expires in 2012.
He and his wife, Christa, live in Lakeland. They have three grown children and a 2-year-old granddaughter.