John Jones of El Paso Chairs Newly-Formed ATJ Commission
By Anita Davis
John Jones is confident and optimistic. "We're going to do good," says the
El Paso attorney, who chairs the newly-formed Texas Access to Justice Commission.
"The commission is a chance to help the 3.5 million poor Texans who need
legal assistance and cannot help themselves."
The Supreme Court of Texas issued an order establishing the Commission
on April 26, and charged it with the development of a statewide integrated
civil legal services delivery system. The commission will serve as an umbrella
organization for state and federally-funded legal services providers in
Texas. The Supreme Court appointed eight members and the State Bar appointed
seven members to the commission, including judges, attorneys, State Bar
board members, legal service providers, and non-attorneys who have "demonstrated
a commitment to and familiarity with access-to-justice issues in Texas."
Jones, a past chair of the State Bar Legal Services to the Poor in Civil
Matter Committee, was asked to chair the commission by the Supreme Court.
"We wanted someone who had demonstrated a commitment to access to justice,
who was well known, and well respected, and someone with exceptional leadership
ability," said Justice Deborah Hankinson, who has spearheaded the Supreme
Court's efforts regarding civil legal services to the poor. "John Jones
is that person, and he is making the kind of commitment to the Access to
Justice Commission that we know will lead it to success."
Jones demonstrated a commitment to helping others long before the commission
was ever thought of. This may be because he grew up poor in Jacinto City
- his parents were divorced when he was three, and he had his first job
at age 11 in a grocery store to help his family make ends meet. As a boy,
he realizes now, his family could not afford a lawyer, had they needed one.
With money his mom saved while working two jobs, Jones enrolled at Sam
Houston State University. Half way through, he ran out of money and accepted
an Army scholarship. After receiving a degree in finance, the Army sent
him to officers' training school, and he served as a commander in Germany
for two years. After nearly seven years in the Army, he opted out of the
military and enrolled at Texas Tech School of Law.
After passing the Bar exam, he joined Kemp, Smith, Duncan, & Hammond,
P.C. in El Paso, where he became a shareholder in 1996. In 1997, he joined
the firm that is now Delgado, Acosta, Braden & Jones, P.C.
And all the while, he was taking on pro bono cases.
"I remember one of the first cases I took," recalled Jones. "A very poor
family had bought a used car at high interest rates. The car broke down
before they got it home." Jones helped them return the car and get their
money back. Having gotten to know the family, Jones mentored the daughter,
who was then in a gang. Ten years later, the daughter has graduated from
college and has her own cleaning business in Austin. She still calls Jones
"Father John."
Jones averages 10 to 12 pro bono cases a year. "You help people and you
get hooked," he explained. Two years ago, Jones and his wife, Erendira,
opened "Un Nino Un Caballo" (One Child One Horse), an equine therapy non-profit
for disabled children in Juarez, Chihuahua. Erendira, who has dual citizenship
and is thus able to own a business in Mexico, is a certified therapist and
runs the non-profit. They have also persuaded others to help the children;
a doctor provides free medical care, a racetrack gave them stables; and
all six horses used for therapy were donated.
Jones likes to ride with his family, which also includes daughter Amirah,
14, and son Amir, 11. "Their names translate to princess and prince," Jones
explains and then adds with a chuckle, "which are pretty accurate descriptions
of them." The whole family also likes to play a competitive game of basketball,
and John and Erendira go to the gym every evening.
"I try to not let all that I do take away from my family," says Jones,
when asked how he is able to fit in his practice, family time, pro bono
work, and now chair the ATJ Commission.
"I have to seize the opportunity," Jones explains. "We are all here for
just a very short time. We can build something and if we do it right, it
will be here forever, long after we're gone. You don't get that many opportunities
in a lifetime; this is one of them."
Jones wants to hear from anyone and everyone about pro bono programs,
how the ATJ Commission can help, ideas for legislation, and, generally,
how best to deliver legal services to all Texans.
"I really want people to call me," says Jones. His toll-free direct line
is (888)544-9997, Ext. 107; his email address is jon@delgadoacosta.com,
and his fax is (915)544-8544. The ATJ also has a website at www.texasatj.org.
Members of the Texas Access to Justice Commission
John R. Jones, Chair, El Paso, shareholder in Delgado, Acosta,
Braden & Jones, P.C.
Dan Boulware, Cleburne, partner in MacLean & Boulware
Luis de la Garza, San Antonio, chair of the board of directors for
the United Ways of Texas
Otway B. Denny, Jr., Houston, partner in Fulbright & Jaworski,
L.L.P.
Kathy Duncan, Fort Worth, West Texas Legal Services
Timothy Floyd, Lubbock, Texas Tech University School of Law
Rhonda Gerson, Houston, retired executive director of Aid to Victims
of Domestic Abuse
Deborah Hankinson, Austin, justice, Supreme Court of Texas
Guy Harrison, Longview, solo practitioner, president-elect of the
State Bar
Daniel Hu, Houston, deputy chief, civil division, U.S. Attorney's
Office for the Southern District of Texas
Lora J. Livingston, Austin, judge, 261st District Court
Elma Teresa Salinas Ender, Laredo, judge, 341st District Court
Vanna Slaughter, Dallas, Catholic Charities Immigration Counseling
Services
Jan Soifer, Austin, partner in Locke Liddell & Sapp, L.L.P.
Ray Thomas, McAllen, partner in Kittleman, Thomas, Ramirez &
Gonzales, P.L.L.C.
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