Gaynelle Griffin Jones

Gaynelle Griffin Jones (November 20, 1948 – March 1, 2013) was an American jurist and lawyer who was the former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.[3]

Gaynelle Griffin Jones
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
In office 1993–1997
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Ronald G. Woods
Succeeded by	Mervyn M. Mosbacker
Justice of the First Court of Appeals of Texas (Place 2)
In office 1992–1993
Appointed by	Ann Richards
Preceded by	Jon N. Hughes[1]
Succeeded by	Adele Hedges[1]
Personal details
Born	Gaynelle Griffin[2] (1948-11-20)November 20, 1948 Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Died	March 1, 2013 (aged 64) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Spouse	Robert Jones
Children	Athena
Education	Emerson College (BA)[2] Boston College (JD)

She was born in Dallas, Texas and graduated from A. J. Moore High School.[4] Jones received her bachelor's degree from Emerson College and her J.D. degree from Boston College Law School. In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Jones as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. She was the first African-American woman to serve in that position.

Before her appointment as U.S. Attorney, Jones was also the first African-American woman to serve on the First Court of the Texas Courts of Appeals. In later years, she worked as litigation counsel for Hewlett-Packard Company and was an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law School.[5][6]

She practiced law for forty years in Massachusetts, Louisiana, and Texas specializing in corporate law and criminal law.[4]

She was married to Robert Jones and had a daughter named Athena.[4]