Benjamin R. Jones Explained

Benjamin R. Jones
Office:Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Termstart:1972
Termend:1977
Predecessor:John C. Bell Jr.
Successor:Michael J. Eagen
Office2:Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Termstart2:1957
Termend2:1972
Birth Date:29 May 1906
Birth Place:Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Spouse:Jane Griffith
Alma Mater:Princeton University
University of Pennsylvania
Battles:World War II

Benjamin Rowland Jones, Jr. (May 29, 1906 – July 24, 1980) was a justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1957 to 1972 and chief justice from 1972 to 1977.

Biography

Benjamin R. Jones was born on May 29, 1906, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He studied at Wyoming Seminary, where he served as class president, before attending Princeton University, graduating in 1927, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. While at Princeton, Jones participated in debating and managed the freshman and varsity lacrosse teams.[1]

Following law school, Jones served in the Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, District Attorney's office before serving in the United States Navy during World War II.[1] In January 1957, Jones joined the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as an associate justice.[2] He served as an associate justice until his ascension to chief justice in 1972. He retired from the court in 1977.[3] [4] He died on July 24, 1980.[1]

Jones had two sons with his first wife, who both attended Princeton and became attorneys. His first wife died in 1953 and he remarried, to Jane Griffith, who had a son of her own. Jones served as president of the United Fund and trustee of Wyoming Seminary and his church, a Welsh church of the Presbyterian denomination.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BENJAMIN R. JONES JR. '27. Princeton Alumni Weekly, Volume 81. 1980. Princeton Alumni Weekly. 31 May 2016.
  2. Web site: Historical List of Supreme Court Justices. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. 31 May 2016.
  3. Web site: Jones, Benjamin Rowland (b. 1906). The Political Graveyard. 31 May 2016.
  4. Potter. Robert L.. Survey of Pennsylvania Law. University of Pittsburgh Law Review. 38. 185. 31 May 2016.