District Court Judge District 16 Seat 5: Clayton Jones

Name: Clayton Jones

Age: 48

Party affiliation: Democrat

Campaign website: www.claytonjonesforjudge.com

Occupation and employer: District Court Judge – State of North Carolina

1. What in your record as a public official or private citizen demonstrates your ability to be effective, fair, and impartial on the bench? What do you believe qualifies you to serve as a district court judge? Please include your experience relevant to civil and criminal law.

I have had the privilege of serving the residents of Durham for the past years. I graduated from North Carolina Central School of Law in 2003. Upon graduating from law school, I served as an assistant public defender from September 2003 until April 2016. I started my career as a public defender representing defendant in show cause civil hearing for child support enforcement and representing defendant charged with misdemeanors and traffic related matters to include driving while impaired offenses. As my career advanced, I managed a caseload of more than 100 cases with defendants charged with murder, robberies, and other violent offenses. I represented the defendant at every critical stage from first appearance to disposition to include bench and jury trials. 

In 2016, I work as an assistant district attorney. I prosecuted violent felonies to include robberies and murders. I headed the robbery task force. I served as the assistant district court supervisor, managing a docket of 200 plus misdemeanors and low-level felonies daily.

In 2019, I was elected to my first term as district court judge. To avoid any conflicts, with any criminal matters, my court assignment was civil. I presided in civil court, summary ejectment, family court involuntary commitment proceedings, domestic violence hearings, and juvenile delinquency. After one year focusing on civil, my responsibilities expanded to include all criminal sessions of court.

In 2022, I was elected to my second term as district court judge. I was also appointed chief district court judge. As chief my responsibilities expanded to assigning district court judges to court sessions, supervising and assigning magistrates, and creating schedules for all district court while presiding over all scheduled courts in Durham County. Along with my chief responsibilities, i still presided in every criminal and civil courtroom in Durham.

During my 22 years career serving Durham, I have taken advantage of the training opportunities in race equity, trauma informed courts, juvenile delinquency, case law updates for family and criminal courts, completed a 40 hours training in abuse neglect and dependency, and trained in administering Narcan. As judge, I believe in operating an efficient courtroom ensuring everyone is threated with compassion and respect. 

 2. How would you define your judicial philosophy? How do you define yourself politically? How does that impact your judicial approach? 

I believe in following the letter of the law by applying the law fairly and impartially recognizing there socio-economic, mental, and financial factors that should be considered before imposing judgment. Politically, I define myself as a liberal who believed our system of government should insure everyone have access healthcare, affordable housing, and a living wage. Understanding our system of government does not apply the needs of its citizen, I apply the law equally, but render judgment individually based on the needs, status, and services necessary for the individual before me.

3. What do you believe are the three most important qualities a judge must have to be an effective jurist? 

District court is the entry for all civil and criminal matters filed in court system. To be an effective jurist, you must have knowledge and experience in criminal and civil matters . An effective jurist must be willing to listen to all parties with patience and respect. An effective jurist must have knowledge how to efficiently manage large dockets to fairly and impartially bring resolution of all parties.

4. The recently passed Iryna’s Law eliminates the option for judges to release people pretrial with only a written promise to appear in court and requires that they set secured bonds for defendants charged with violent offenses or with more than two prior convictions. Do you support these changes? Why or why not?

As a judicial official, I took an oath to apply the laws of the United States Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution. Personally, there are major issues with Iryna’s law that I hope our legislature would reconsider.

 5. Black North Carolinians are incarcerated at much higher rates than their white peers. What responsibility do judges have to address racial inequity in the court system? 

The role of the judge is to ensure the following:
the individual understands nature of the charges, 
inquire if the a person wants and qualifies for a court appointed attorney in a proceeding where there a person may be exposed to an active sentence, 
inquire if there are any competency issues,
inquire if the person understands the terms and conditions of a plea offer, and/or
endure the sentence is within the structure sentence guidelines.

If there is a circumstances, where the bond set or plea offer is racially motivated, the judge has an obligation to reject the plea offer or reconsider the bond based on the statutory factors. Judges should review pleas to ensure they are fair, just, and deter crime. The judge should reject plea offers that promote draconian sentences and mass incarceration. 

A judge must listen with patience to all whom appear before the Court to endure no racial factors unfairly impacts anyone within the court system. There is not such thing as “cookie cutter justice.” Justice must be applied individually understanding each person circumstances and ability to comply.

6. Do you support restorative justice practices and diversion programs? What kinds of cases do you believe should be exempted from diversion programs?

I support restorative justice practices and diversion programs. I support any program that provides closure for families, treatment over incarceration, and reduces the collateral consequences of criminal charges and convictions. 

If a diversionary offer is proposed without any input from the alleged victim for a crime listed under the victim’s right act, it is unlikely the defendant would be able to comply the offer, or the age of the case limits the defendant’s changes to comply with the program, I may reject the offer.

7. How should judges take immigration status into consideration, both in case resolutions and in courtroom proceedings?

As judges, HB 318 requires judges to inquire into the immigration status of an individual before setting a bond. Before entering any judgement, minimizing the collateral consequences should be the goal. 

8. In many cases, voters know very little about the judges they are electing. Tell us something about yourself that our readers may be surprised to learn.  

I am the father of an amazing fifteen year old daughter. She is the highlight of my life. She keeps current on technology. She makes me laugh. She is my why.

9. Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected that you suspect might cost you some points with voters.

I believe in second, third, or may a fourth chance for young offenders before incarceration. I do not believe incarceration is the remedy to deter criminal behavior. We have an obligation to provide all methods to rehabilitate of youth before confining.

10. Are there any issues this questionnaire has not addressed that you would like to address?

On December 8, 2025, I was charged with misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and misdemeanor assault on a female for an incident that occurred on November 29, 2025. All parties were afforded full due process, and the matter was heard in district court in Guilford County to ensure there was no real or perceived prejudice or imparity in the proceeding.

After a complete trial, I was acquitted on all charges. Following the acquittal, I was allowed to return to work by the Administrative Office of Courts. As I move forward, I am committed to work for justice and equality for all residence and citizens of Durham I look forward to maintaining your trust as we work together to make Durham the best county and city in the North Carolina.