Honorable Tonya R. Jones, Judge

Judge Tonya R. Jones was elected to the Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, on November 8, 2016 and began her term on January 19, 2017. She is the first African American female to serve as Judge in the 97-year history of this Court.

Judge Jones graduated from Cleveland State University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work in 1993. Upon receipt of her B.A., she began her professional career as a licensed social worker. Her passion and dedication to working with families and individuals resulted in her being employed in various fields of social work including Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, Domestic Violence and Child Protection and Advocacy.

Judge Jones graduated from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1998. Since that time, she has devoted her professional career to assisting families in crisis. From 2000 through 2014, she maintained a full-time private law practice concentrating in the area of Family Law. She is passionately devoted to this area of the law and is particularly concerned about protecting the best interests of children.

In 2014, Judge Jones was appointed as a Magistrate in the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court where she presided over delinquency, child support and child custody cases. She was actively involved in the Court’s implementation of the Child Support Warrant Recall Program and the Custody/Support Project.

Judge Jones’ commitment to families goes beyond her role in the courtroom. She has served in positions of leadership within the community and on the board of many non-profit organizations. In addition, she has voluntarily represented victims of domestic violence, disabled veterans and individuals impacted by the foreclosure crisis. Judge Jones is a member of the Ohio Judicial Conference’s Domestic Relations Law & Policy Committee, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Norman S. Minor Bar Association, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the Ohio Association of Domestic Relations Judges.

Judge Jones is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Judge Jones and her husband, Joe, reside in the city of Cleveland with their two children.