Durham Chief District Judge Clayton Jones Jr. Found Not Guilty in Domestic Violence, Assault Case
DURHAM, N.C. — Clayton J. Jones Jr., the Chief District Court Judge for Durham County, has been found not guilty of misdemeanor domestic violence and assault on a female following a trial in Guilford County, his attorneys confirmed Thursday.
The charges stemmed from allegations involving a former romantic partner and a reported incident in late 2025.
Not Guilty Verdict Announced by Defense Attorneys
In a statement released Thursday afternoon (Jan. 15), Jones’ legal team at Thomas, Ferguson and Beskind, L.L.P. said the court cleared him of all charges.
“Judge Jones has spent his whole career fighting for due process,” the statement read. “He firmly believes that when an innocent person is given due process in our criminal justice system, the correct result will be reached. In his trial today, that is exactly what happened.”
The statement added that while the experience was personally difficult, Jones remains committed to ensuring fairness in the courts.
“He is entirely committed to making sure that every person in our community receives due process.”
Background of the Case
Court records show Jones, 48, was accused of physically assaulting a woman he had previously been in a relationship with during a domestic dispute at a private residence in Durham on November 29, 2025.
He was charged with:
- Misdemeanor domestic violence
- Assault on a female
The case went to trial in Guilford County, where a judge ultimately found him not guilty on both counts.
Judicial Career and Political Future
According to the North Carolina Judicial Branch, Jones is a graduate of North Carolina Central University School of Law and began his legal career as a public defender before joining the Durham County District Attorney’s Office.
He was elected to his first term as a District Court judge in 2016, won re-election in 2018, and is currently serving his second term. In 2022, he was appointed Chief District Court Judge for Durham County, a role in which he oversees the administrative operations of the district court system.
On November 24, 2025, Jones announced he would file to run for a third term in 2026.