San Diego Criminal Justice Memorial
Honorees
A memorial directory honoring deceased judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys who advanced criminal justice in San Diego County.
Hon. Napoleon A. Jones, Jr.
1940-2009
To most of those who knew him Judge Jones was affectionately and respectfully known as “Nap”. Born in Louisiana, his family moved to San Diego when he was very young. He attended Logan and Chesterton elementary schools, Memorial Jr. High and San Diego High School. He spent most of his life in the neighborhood near Memorial.
After graduating from San Diego State University in 1962 with a B.A. in social work, he served in the United States Army. He was stationed for the most part at Fort Benning, Georgia where he served as a social work specialist at the rank of E5.
Returning to San Diego State University for a Masters Degree in social work, he worked in foster home placement and Child Protective Services. Thereafter, he attended and graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law.
At SDSU he founded and served as the first President of the Black Student Council. History repeated itself at USD Law School, where he served as the first President of the school’s chapter of the Black American Law Student Association.
After law school he worked for California Rural Legal Assistance in Modesto, representing farm laborers and other low income clients. He returned to San Diego to work for Defenders Inc., providing defense for the indigent, before joining fellow Criminal Justice Roll of Honor honoree Tom Adler in private practice.
Appointed to San Diego Municipal Court in 1977 as the second African American Judge in San Diego County, he was the first person to receive the San Diego Trial Lawyer’s award as Municipal Court Trial Judge of the Year in 1981.
In 1982 he was elevated to the San Diego Superior Court, where he continued to serve with distinction including service as the Supervising Judge of the Juvenile Court Division. He characterized juvenile court work as “probably the most important assignment we have.”
On September 19, 1994, he became the second African American to serve on the United States District Court in San Diego, taking senior status in 2008.
His treasured friend and mentor was the late Earl Gilliam, the first African American Judge on the San Diego Municipal and Superior Courts, and the United States District Court, and one of the first group of honorees on the Criminal Justice Roll of Honor.
“Nap” was intensely grateful to his parents “who did not believe in the word can’t.” To the countless youth he mentored his message was, “What you want to be you can be.”
“I am a product of my community,” he would say, “I have had several people help me along the way…I believe it is my obligation to give back.”
“Nap” honored this obligation throughout his life!