ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996              TAG: 9609030082
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-4  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: ABINGDON
SOURCE: Associated Press 

FEDERAL JUDGE SWORN IN JONES WAS FIRST CONSIDERED IN 1980

James Parker Jones, first considered for a federal judgeship in 1980, has finally reached the bench.

Jones was sworn in Friday as U.S. District judge in Abingdon. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination by President Clinton earlier this summer.

Jones was first considered for the bench in 1980 when two new judgeships were created for the Western District of Virginia. One of the two was subsequently eliminated, and the Senate declined to confirm Jones for the remaining position.

``I was frustrated 16 years ago when my nomination wasn't confirmed, but it's like anything in this life, it turned out for the best,'' said Jones, a former state senator, assistant state attorney general and law clerk for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jones, 56, has been a partner since 1972 with the firm of Penn, Stuart, Eskridge & Jones.

He succeeds U.S. Judge J. Harry Michael, who reached senior status Oct. 31, 1995, limiting the number of cases he hears.

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