Background
Jones, Hugh Richard was born on March 19, 1914 in New Hartford, New York, United States. Son of Hugh Richard and Anna (Jones) Jones.
Jones, Hugh Richard was born on March 19, 1914 in New Hartford, New York, United States. Son of Hugh Richard and Anna (Jones) Jones.
AB, Hamilton College, 1935. Doctor of Laws, Hamilton College, 1974. Juris Doctor, Harvard University, 1939.
Doctor of Laws, Albany Law School, 1981. Doctor of Laws, Syracuse University, 1995. Doctor of Divinity, General Theological Seminary, 1987.
He served on the New York State Board of Social Welfare, and was appointed Chairman by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller in 1964. In 1972, he was President of the New York State Bar Association. In 1972, he was elected on the Republican and Conservative tickets to the New York Court of Appeals.
He retired from the Court of Appeals at the end of 1984 when he reached the constitutional age limit of 70 years.
Afterwards he resumed the practice of law with the firm of Hiscock & Barclay in Syracuse, New York, retiring in 1992. In New York v. Onofre, a 1980 decision that found the law against sodomy between consenting adults to be unconstitutional, Jones wrote for the 5-to-2 majority: "lieutenant is not the function of the penal law to provide for the enforcement of moral or theological values."
He also earned a Doctor of Divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary in Manhattan in 1974.
Member of New York State Board Social Welfare, 1959-1969, chairman, 1964-1969, director local health and welfare agys., Utica. Trustee Hamilton College, since 1967, State University of New York, 1969-1972. Chancellor to presiding bishop Episcopal Church, 1986-1991, chancellor to Bishop of Center New York since 1957.
Chairman Governor Cuomo's Advisory Commision on Liability Insurance, New York, 1986. Chairman Temporary State Commision on Executive, Legislation and Judicial Compensation, 1987-1988. Chairman Constitutional Commission Judicial Nomination, 1992-1997.
Served to Lieutenant commander of The United States Navy Reserve, 1942-1945. Fellow American Bar Foundation. Member American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association (president 1971-1972,Root-Stimson award 1978, Gold medal 1985), Oneida County Bar Association (president 1962), Association Bar City New York, American Law Institute, American Judicature Society (Herbert Harley award 1987), New York County Lawyers Association (honorary).
Married Jean McMillen, July 3, 1937. Children: Hugh Richard, Anne E., Thomas McM., Jean C., David B.