The Law Should Serve People, Not Overshadow Them: Judge Bernard M. Jones

Smiling man with glasses wears a black judicial robe, white shirt, and red striped tie, hands clasped on a black chair.
Judge Bernard M. Jones ‘04 J.D.

Judge Bernard M. Jones ‘04 J.D. worked in private practice and academics before rising through the ranks to serve as a U.S. District Court judge. He reflected on prioritizing fairness and integrity, opening doors as a trailblazing African American jurist in Oklahoma, and what it means to him to be a “different kind of lawyer.”

Jones grew up attending Oklahoma City public schools before his parents decided to send him to Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. “The discipline of study, the call to service, and the rhythm of weekly Mass mirrored the values that were instilled in me at a very young age: hard work, education, service and, of course, faith,” he said. “These values and the lessons that flowed pointed me towards law and helped me to appreciate law as more than a job or profession but a vocation of service.”

Jones attributes this initial encounter with Catholic education as the first stepping stone to his commitment to being a different kind of lawyer.

Jones earned his undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University prior to joining Notre Dame Law School’s class of 2004. After graduating from law school, Jones moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he practiced commercial and labor and employment law with Porter Wright Morris & Arthur. After two years, he returned to Oklahoma City as a litigator for McAfee & Taft.

In 2008, Jones joined the administrative faculty at Oklahoma University School of Law, first working as an assistant dean for admissions and later rising to an associate dean for admissions and external affairs.

A man in a dark suit with glasses raises his right hand to take an oath, his left hand on a white book. A man in black judicial robes holds a document, while a woman in a black dress and pearls observes. A bookshelf is in the background.

At the age of 33, Jones was appointed District Judge for Oklahoma’s Seventh Judicial District. In this role, he oversaw civil, family, and domestic dockets as well as the district’s drug and mental health court programs. “I came to better appreciate that every case was about people and the real impact of judicial decisions on their lives,” he shared about his work. This outlook would set the foundation of Judge Jones’s jurisprudence and professional legacy.

After three years, he was named United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma. As the first African American to serve as a U.S. magistrate judge in Oklahoma, Jones said that his experience formed his views on mentorship and leadership. He reflected, “It reminded me that the law is bigger than any one person and that representation matters—not for the sake of appearance, but because it signals to others that doors are open.”

A family of five smiles: a man in a dark suit, a woman in a black dress, two boys in tan long-sleeve shirts, and a girl in a dark dress. They stand together in front of a red event banner with gold lettering.

In 2019, President Donald Trump nominated Jones to serve the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. On December 19, 2019, Jones was confirmed by the U.S. Senate with 91 senators voting in favor, three against, and six absent on the presidential campaign trail. He is only the second African American in Oklahoma’s history to be confirmed and to serve as a federal judge. This strong bipartisan vote, Jones said, was affirmation that his reputation was that of an impartial and just jurist.

Jones attributes much of his success to his education at Notre Dame Law School and its emphasis on forming a different kind of lawyer. “This notion of service has shaped my approach to the law and taught me that justice requires more than knowledge; it requires humility, fairness, and respect for the dignity of every person. I carry these lessons with me on the bench each day,” he explained. “Each case is different, but the principle is the same: the law should serve people, not overshadow them.”

A smiling man in a dark blue pinstripe suit and a woman in a black cowl-neck dress stand together in a formal event hallway.
Judge Bernard M. Jones and his wife Dr. Mautra Staley Jones

Jones has been married for 20 years to his wife, Dr. Mautra Staley Jones. He describes her as “a trailblazer in her own right” serving as the president of Oklahoma City Community College, the fourth largest postsecondary institution in the state. She is the first woman and the first person of color to lead that institution.

When asked about his legacy as a judge, Jones hopes his will be one exemplifying fairness, integrity, and honoring the dignity of every person he encounters.

“I want all who appear before me to feel as if they were heard, treated with dignity, and judged with impartiality. While titles and positions pass, it will be enough for me to simply be remembered as a servant of justice who upheld the law with humility and respect for all.”

A smiling group, including a judge in a black robe, poses before a screen showing an American flag and "Naturalization Ceremony, Oklahoma City Community College, Aug 4, 2023." A woman in a red dress, a woman holding a baby in a floral dress, a woman in a red skirt, and a man in a suit are in the group.

To aspiring lawyers and judges, his advice is simple: “Love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8).

- Written by Libbey Detcher