William Fones

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William Fones
Associate Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court
In office
1973–1990
Personal details
Born(1917-10-06)October 6, 1917
Friendship, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedDecember 23, 2010(2010-12-23) (aged 93)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
SpouseRebecca Barr (died 2000)
Children2
Alma materMessick High School
West Tennessee State Teachers College
University of Tennessee
ProfessionJurist
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
UnitFifth Air Force
Battles/warsWorld War II

William Hardin Davis Fones[1] (October 6, 1917 – December 23, 2010) was an American jurist who served on the state supreme court of Tennessee.

Fones was born in

pilot for the Fifth Army Air Force and flying 90 combat missions in the Pacific.[2][3]

Upon returning to civilian life after World War II, Fones commenced the private practice of law in Memphis. He spent 25 years with the firm of Rosenfield, Borod, Fones, Bogatin & Kremer, leaving in 1971 to assume a circuit court judgeship.[2][3]

In 1973, Fones was appointed an associate justice of the

Modified Missouri Plan for appointment of state supreme court judges, a partisan election was held for all five seats on the court. Fones, who declared himself a political independent, stood for election and became the only incumbent among five candidates endorsed by the Democratic Party. The Democratic slate won the election[4] and Fones was to remain on the court until his retirement in 1990, including service as chief justice.[2][5]

Fones' tenure on the Tennessee Supreme Court is considered to have been a progressive period for the court. The court modernized Tennessee law, introducing new

U.S. Supreme Court decision that had found mandatory death penalties to be unconstitutional, established that judges deciding child custody cases should consider the "best interest of the child," and upheld a ban on the practice of snake handling during religious services.[2][3][4]

Fones was married for more than 50 years to the former Rebecca Barr, who died in 2000. They had two children.[2]

Fones died in Memphis on December 23, 2010, following a long illness.[2][3]

Notes

  1. ^ Who's Who in American Law 1992-1993. Marquis Who's Who. 1991. p. 320.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice William H.D. Fones Died at Age 93, Tennessee Court System website, accessed January 5, 2011
  3. ^ a b c d Associated Press, Retired Tenn. Supreme Court Justice Fones dies, The Tennessean, December 27, 2010
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-1-57233-178-5
  5. ^ Retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Fones dies, WATE-TV, December 27, 2010.
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