John Bailey Jones

Who is John Bailey Jones?

John Bailey Jones is a United States federal judge.

Born in Mitchell, South Dakota, Jones was in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1945 to 1947. He received a B.S. from the University of South Dakota in 1951 and an LL.B. from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1953. He was in private practice in Presho, South Dakota from 1953 to 1966. He was a County judge, Lyman County, South Dakota from 1953 to 1956. He was a South Dakota state representative from 1956 to 1960. He was a Circuit judge, South Dakota Tenth Judicial Circuit from 1967 to 1974. He was a Circuit judge, South Dakota Sixth Judicial Circuit from 1974 to 1981.

On October 20, 1981, Jones was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota vacated by Fred J. Nichol. Jones was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 18, 1981, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge from 1991-1994. He assumed senior status on January 1, 1995.