Today we’d like to introduce you to Judge DaSean Jones.
Judge DaSean Jones was elected as the State District Judge of the 180th Criminal District Court on November 6, 2018, and took the bench on January 1, 2019. He presides over one of twenty-two (22) district criminal courts with countywide jurisdiction over serious felony cases such as DWI w/ a child, Burglary, Arson, Credit Card Abuse, Aggravated Assault, Manslaughter, and Murder.
Prior to his election, Judge Jones was a trial lawyer practicing in the areas of criminal defense, employment, and personal injury. In addition, he has served as an Army officer for seventeen (17) years. His early years were spent as a Field Artillery officer. He currently continues his service as an Army Judge Advocate (lawyer).
EDUCATION. Judge Jones received his undergraduate degree in English from the famed Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama in 2001. In 2006, he received his Masters of Arts degree from Webster University. Judge Jones received his J.D. from storied Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 2011. As an undergraduate, Jones, the son of an Army Non-Commissioned Officer, participated in Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
MILITARY SERVICE. Judge Jones entered the Army as a Field Artillery Officer in 2001. While in the active component, he served as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer for the 6-37 Field Artillery Battalion (Republic of Korea); the Executive Officer for Alpha Battery, 3-18t h Field Artillery; the Battalion Logistics Officer in the 3r d Battalion, 18t h Field Artillery “Steel Professionals”; the Battalion Liaison Officer in the 5t h Battalion, 3r d Artillery “First Round”; Operations Officer for 17t h Field Artillery Brigade, and the Battalion Fire Support Officer for the 4t h Battalion, 227t h Regiment Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, First Air Cavalry Brigade.
MILITARY EDUCATION. Judge Jones’s military education includes: the Command General Staff College Intermediate Leadership Education, Special Victims Counsel Course, Intelligence Law Course, Judge Advocate Advanced Officer Course, Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, Armor Captain’s Career Course, Cavalry Leadership Course, Modern Army Combatives 1 Program (Level II Instructor Certified), Joint Fire Control Course, Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, and Airborne School.
MILITARY AWARDS. Judge Jones’s military honors include: the Combat Action Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Army Commendation Medal, with one oak leaf cluster; the Army Achievement Medal, with one oak leaf cluster; the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Korean Defense Service Medal; the Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Training Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has not been smooth, but all of my former obstacles and challenges have provided lessons that I now leverage in my current position.
One struggle was my apparent youth or perceived lack of appropriate experiences. My main two challenges during my road to becoming a judge was translating my professional experience into qualities others could appreciate. I have never been a civilian prosecutor. And I did not solely handle criminal cases.
Yet, those perceived hurdles defined the lack of people taking the time to get to know the person they are judging. This is the precise issue I have found with our Judges. They move on preconceived notions as opposed to an examination of the individual in front of them.
I served two combat tours in Iraq, for each I was awarded a Bronze Star Medal. I served as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Battle Captain for an AH-64 attack helicopter unit. At first glance, this isn’t a qualifier for a Judge. However, I do not believe there are more than a handful of attorneys in Houston who have had to make in the spot life and death decisions like I had to do daily. Decisions made in austere environments, bullets flying, intense heat, chaos, in a foreign country. You cannot replicate this experience and what it does to the dexterity and fitness of one’s decision-making process in life and death situations.
Also, I was never a prosecutor. And I have no ill towards them. My wife was a prosecutor. However, our system breeds familiarity. If someone knows someone, they get away with short cuts or otherwise undermine the law over relationships. I don’t do that; everyone is listened to in my court.
Also, the fact that I practiced outside of just criminal law forces me to pull from the U.S. and Texas Constitutions, the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the Penal Code, and case law rather than say this is how we have done it for 19 years and being wholly inaccurate based upon a tradition as opposed to rooted in law. Again, this is something I pull from being an Army Officer, application of the rule of law over opinion and emotions.
So, as a young looking African-American U.S. Army Combat Veteran with 18 years of military experience and two tours to Iraq and eight years of law practice, I’ve had some hurdles with not fitting the sometimes preferred archetype of who should be a judge. But as we said in the Army, I “suck it up and drive on” and let my work speak for itself.
What else should we know about your career and your current role as a Judge?
I am the Judge of a Criminal District Court in Texas. My court focuses on felony cases from DWI 3rd to Murder.
I am proud of my approach to cash bond. I do my best to ensure all non-violent, victimless cases get a bond that will quickly grant their freedom from confinement. I then look at my non-violent victim cases and reasonably so the same. Then I look at my violent crimes and based upon several factors; I do the same as before.
We have come to a point in this Country where people are beginning to better understand that an arrest alone is not a conviction. Which means we don’t apply the lynch mob mentality to cases and allow men and women, no matter their financial status, to await trial without detention. Again these people are solely facing allegations and have not been convicted of anything.
What sets me apart from others is I am brave enough to do what I said I was going to do in regards to bond. I maintain the lowest number of pre-trial detainees. Unlike some of my cohorts have not taken the position and simply kept all my predecessor’s former practices with respect to pre-trial detention and other potential punitive measures.
Everyone who comes in my court is spoken to with respect. I address everyone as sir and ma’am. No matter the charge. That’s how I had to conduct business in the Army. It wasn’t about how I felt about you etc. I followed professional guidelines, customs, and courtesies.
I also make sure I let the attorneys finish out their arguments. They may not agree with my rulings, but generally, every party will be heard.
And in that same vein, there will be no special treatment and disrespect will not be tolerated.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is achieving set goals that have defined metrics. Currently, I want to encourage and maintain the integrity of the judiciary. I have already heard whispers of judges sharing fees for marriages in their courts. I’ve heard of judges providing favorable rulings those who paid well into their campaigns.
I believe in integrity. I have always applied the Army’s mantra for leadership, which boils down to Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. I use it as my guiding light and so long as I meet those marks. I feel successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.daseanjones.com
- Instagram: JudgeDaseanajones
- Facebook: JudgeDaseanjones
Image Credit:
Photography by TicToc Photography
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