US District Court Judge Jones to take senior status in August

A longtime federal judge in Southwest Virginia will be taking senior status in the coming months.

A written statement from US District Court in Abingdon says Judge James Jones will formally take that status on Aug. 30, and intends to continue performing judicial duties as a senior judge. Jones has presided over numerous cases in the region since being appointed to the federal bench by former President Bill Clinton in 1996.

In addition to his judgeship for the Western District of Virginia, he serves as a member of the US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in Washington D.C. Jones taking senior status will create a vacancy on the court which will be filled by President Joe Biden.