--- title: "Thomas G. Jones | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-g-jones" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Thomas G. Jones Texas Precinct 1 Place 1 · Justice of the Peace ## Profile - Court: Texas Precinct 1 Place 1 - State: Texas - Role: Justice of the Peace - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Democratic Party candidate running for re‐election to the Dallas County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Place 1 seat, with his current term ending December 31, 2026 - The long‐serving Justice of the Peace for Dallas County, Texas, Precinct 1 Place 1, a role he has held since 1991 and is currently seeking re‐election in 2026 - Served two terms on the Dallas Independent School District Board of Education (1987–1992), also holding dual roles as a school board representative and Justice of the Peace ### Education - Virginia Military Institute - Dallas Baptist University and a Master’s in Urban Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington — B.A. ### Additional information - Judge Jones presides over JP 1‐1 at the South Dallas Government Center, 8301 S. Polk Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75232. - He advanced from the Democratic primary runoff on May 26, 2026, and is on the ballot for the November 3, 2026 general election. - As of March 1, 2025, JP 1‐1 implements mandatory e‐filing for all cases. - His court is recognized for efficiency and accessibility, processing over 50,000 cases in 2024 — the busiest Justice of the Peace court in Texas — and handling more than 36,000 additional cases compared to other JP courts. - In 1980, he received the Carnegie Hero Award for rescuing a man from a burning truck. - The court handles small claims (up to $20,000), landlord–tenant disputes, Class C misdemeanors, and marriage ceremonies. - Worked 10 years with the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Civil Rights and for the Wilmer‐Hutchins School District. - Judge Jones is a widower, father of a daughter, and active member of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church. - He is the proud grandfather of Jay Logan Taylor. - Birth place: Macon ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### justice court remote appearances Scope: statewide In justice-court civil proceedings, the judge may allow or require electronic participation after considering case, evidence, access, and party factors; written notice must include joining and evidence-submission instructions. Evidence excerpt: A judge may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means. [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### limited criminal remote appearance Scope: statewide For the specific fine-and-cost hearings governed by Articles 45A.258 and 45A.259, a justice or municipal judge may allow a defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference when an in-person appearance would impose undue hardship. Evidence excerpt: If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing under Article 45A.258 or 45A.259 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference. [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Official roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) - [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf) - [Wikidata: Thomas G. Jones](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q883562) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-g-jones", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-g-jones", "name": "Thomas G. Jones | KnowJudges", "description": "Thomas G. Jones, Texas Precinct 1 Place 1. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-g-jones#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-g-jones#judge", "name": "Thomas G. 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Jones", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-g-jones" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0b7995f0d74b12852c186361) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7a6578736340dbebb75e89c7) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0fa5a7f51969f3609de00053) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.