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E. Stewart Jones, Jr.

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E. Stewart "Stu" Jones, Jr. is a former attorney from Troy, New York.[1] E. Stewart Jones, Jr. is the third generation in the Jones patriarchy to have had practiced law with notoriety, after father E. Stewart Sr. and grandfather Abbott.[2][3] E. Stewart Jones, Jr. was the second Jones to attended Williams College, after his father, where he majored in American History and Literature.[4][5]

According to the Troy Record, "Jones [was] the only New York lawyer outside of two in New York City to be elected to the four most exclusive national organizations recognizing select trial lawyers’ accomplishments: the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Inner Circle of Advocates, the International Society of Barristers and the American College of Trial Lawyers...Jones has been listed in the Best Lawyers of America since the inaugural list in 1983 and [was] listed in six separate categories." [6]

Stewart Jones was also Fellow at each of: the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, the American Bar Foundation, the New York Bar Foundation, the Federal Bar Foundation, and the Litigation Counsel of America.

Famous cases

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In 1988, Stu represented former Major League Baseball umpire Dave Pallone in questioning related to an investigation of a sex ring involving teen-age boys by Saratoga Springs, NY District Attorney David Wait.[7][8][9]

Jones represented former Washington County, New York supervisor William L. Nikas in 1994 against allegations of corruption in negotiations for the construction of a trash burning plant.[10]

In what was highly dramatic situation in Albany, New York politics, Mr. Jones zealously represented J. Michael Bosley, a top Aide and counsel to former speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver, against accusations of rape in August of 2003.[11]

Stewart Jones represented Jon Romano in his 2004 firing of a 2-gauge shotgun at students and teachers inside Columbia High School (East Greenbush, New York).[12]

Jones joined fellow attorney Jim Hacker to represent the families of 20 individuals who perished following the Ethan Allen boating accident on Lake George (lake), New York in 2005.[13]

In 2013, Jones represented the family of Clement Clarke Moore in a dispute over who wrote A Visit from St. Nicholas, a poem published anonymously in 1823 by the Troy Sentinel.[14] The courtroom drama reached national audiences when a Hallmark movie was made about the case 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," as a follow-on to the play “The Trial Before Christmas.” [15]

Jones successfully defended Joseph Bruno in 2014 in retrying corruption charges that could have lead to two years of jail time.[16]

Jones also represented former state Assemblyman William Scarborough (politician) to ensure his sentencing, a Democrat from Queens who resigned and pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges in 2015.[17] This legal representation resulted in Scarborough being sentenced to federal instead of state prison .[18]

Community service, philanthropy, recognitions

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Jones served as co-chair of the Capital District Community Gardens’ Urban Grow Center campaign.[19]

Jones served as chairman twice of the Albany Law School board of trustees, where he was awarded a trustee gold medal. Stewart and his wife Kim endowed nine scholarships at six different schools and for research at a regional cancer center.[20]

Jones spearheaded capital campaigns at Albany Law School, the Albany Academy, Gilda's Club, the Legal Aid Society and restoration of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Albany, New York).[21] ).

Resignation and Disbarment

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In the summer of 2024, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department disbarred Jones in what was described as a rare split court decision in favor of accepting his application to voluntarily resign from legal practice.[22][23] Mr. Jones admitted to misappropriation of client funds, improper bookkeeping and commingling of funds.[24]

Jones was described as being "the gold standard for the local bar" by longtime friend and top attorney William Dreyer.[25] In response to the end of his former mentor's legal career, notable Capital Region Criminal Defense Attorney George LaMarche said, "He has the support of this legal community."

In a show of that support, well-known Capital Regional criminal defense attorney Mike McDermott said of his colleague that saying Mr. Jones "was a legend, an icon in this profession, is not a hyperbole." And, in reference to young attorney's watching Mr. Jones trying a case, Mr. McDermott said, "it's almost like a group of painters staring up through the scaffolding to get a glimpse of Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel -- I mean he was that much of a craftsman and a master of the art of advocacy" [26]

Additionally, members of the non-legal community wrote letters to the editor of the largest regional newspaper, the Times Union (Albany), in his defense.[27][28]

Publications

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Jonakait, R. N., Baer, H., Jones, E. S., & Imwinkelried, E. (1998). New York Evidentiary Foundations. LexisNexis.

Garcia, M., Getnick, M. E., & Rosenblatt, A. M. Remarks in Honor of Professor David D. Siegel.................... 391 Connie Mayer Judith S. Kaye E. Stewart Jones, Jr.

- The Law Dragon, 500 Leading Plaintiffs Lawyers (Law Dragon Magazine, Volume rr, Issue II, January/February, 2007).

- Top 25 Attorneys in the Hudson Valley (New York Super Lawyers - Upstate Edition - from initial edition in 2007 through current edition).

- Top 10 Lawyers in Upstate New York (Hudson Valley to Buffalo) (Super Lawyers Magazine - Upstate New York Edition - from initial edition in October 2007 through current edition; (Top Point Getter in Upstate New York-2007, 2016 (second in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2015)).

References

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  1. ^ Record, Troy (2021-07-22). "Five Questions: E. Stewart Jones". troyrecord.com. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  2. ^ Circle, Inner (2021-07-22). "E. Stewart Jones, Sr". innercircle.org. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  3. ^ Grondahl, Paul (2013-12-13). "The unfinished business of 'Legs' Diamond". timesunion.com. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  4. ^ Levine, David (2014-08-11). "BEARING HIS NAME How E. Stewart Jones Jr. deals with a powerful legacy". superlawyers.com. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  5. ^ Neil, Martha (2013-12-11). "Bootlegger tried to peel off $30K in cash to pay lawyer after 1931 trial victory". abajournal.com. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  6. ^ Halligan, Lauren (2016-05-05). "Troy attorney Jones joins Tech Valley Business Hall of Fame". troyrecord.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  7. ^ "Sports People; Pallone Part of Inquiry". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  8. ^ Laden, Tim (1988-09-21). "PALLONE UNDER INVESTIGATION IN SEX CASE". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  9. ^ "National League umpire Dave Pallone met with..." Los Angeles Times. 1988-09-23. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  10. ^ Norris, Floyd (1994-03-20). "Wall Street; An Embarrassment on the Amex". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  11. ^ Baker, Al (2003-08-08). "Silver Aide's Lawyer Goes on the Attack Against Rape Charge". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  12. ^ "East Greenbush school shooter Jon Romano released from prison". San Antonio Express-News. 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  13. ^ Star, Post (2006-08-18). "Judge combines Ethan Allen suits". poststar.com. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  14. ^ Williams, Pete (2013-12-17). "'Twas the trial before Christmas: Who really wrote the famous poem?". nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  15. ^ Grondahl, Paul (2022-12-14). "Troy's 'Night Before' poem trial subject of Hallmark movie". timesunion.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  16. ^ Vielkind, Jimmy (2014-12-29). "State to send $1.5 M to defunct Bruno campaign committee". politico.com. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  17. ^ Kaplan, Thomas (2015-08-28). "Assemblyman Scarborough to Step Down and Plead Guilty to Corruption Charges". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  18. ^ Gavin, Robert (2015-09-15). "Assemblyman William Scarborough gets prison sentence for cheating taxpayersCharges". timesunion.com. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  19. ^ Halligan, Lauren (2021-07-21). "Community Gardens launches Urban Grow Center". troyrecord.com. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  20. ^ Lyons, Brenden (2024-05-21). "Law license of E. Stewart Jones in jeopardy amid investigation". timesunion.com. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  21. ^ Halligan, Lauren (2016-05-05). "Troy attorney Jones joins Tech Valley Business Hall of Fame". troyrecord.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  22. ^ Lee, Brian (2024-07-19). "Longtime Upstate Attorney's Disbarment Draws Rare Split Decision". Law.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  23. ^ Lyons, Brendan (2024-07-18). "E. Stewart Jones disbarred by appellate court in split decision". timesunion.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  24. ^ "Attorney E. Stewart Jones disbarred for commingling clients' money". WNYT.com. 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  25. ^ Lyons, Brenden (2024-07-18). "Stewart Jones disbarred by appellate court in split decision". timesunion.com. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  26. ^ "Attorney E. Stewart Jones disbarred for commingling clients' money". WNYT.com. 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  27. ^ "Letters: A defense of E. Stewart Jones". Timesunion.com. 2024-08-05. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  28. ^ "Letters: Kudos to saviors, farmers, of American chestnut tree". TimesUnion.com. 2024-09-30. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
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