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JULY/AUGUST 2015
eXtra legal legacy

stephanie Tubbs Jones

BY Alexis eichelBerger

he legacy of Congresswoman She continued to prosper during her time Jones worked as an assistant county
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a at Case Western Reserve University, where prosecutor and trial attorney in Cleveland
trailblazer in multiple facets of her she founded the African-American Students before running for public office. In 1992,
career in law and public service, Association and graduated in 1971 with a she was appointed Cuyahoga County
t began and remains rooted in bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor prosecutor, making her the state’s first
Northeast Ohio. in psychology. African American prosecutor and the only
Born in Cleveland in 1949, Jones was Jones then enrolled in the Case Western black woman serving as prosecutor in a
youngest of three daughters of two blue-collar University Law School, believing she could major U.S. city at the time.
workers. At Collinwood High School, Jones change the world. Indeed, Jones became After 17 years in public office, in 1998
excelled in both the classroom and athletics. the first woman and African-American to Jones ran for her district’s U.S. House of
reach several key Representatives seat. She won by a large
positions in law and margin, making her the first African-
government. American woman to represent Ohio in
Judge Charles the U.S. Congress. Each term, she was
Patton, a municipal overwhelmingly re-elected, illustrating the
court judge in love and respect of her constituents.
Cleveland, grew up Patton imagines Jones’ success would’ve
in the same Cleveland continued even beyond her impressive
neighborhood as accomplishments. Her drive and charisma
Jones. And from had the potential to propel her to high-
elementary school ranking positions in the courtroom and in
onward, throughout the federal government, Patton said, and
each of their careers as both a leader in her community and a
as publicly-elected friend, Jones was a pleasure to know.
officials, they would “She set an example of how to achieve
encounter one and accomplish ... things,” Patton said.
another often. Jones spent her time in the House of
When together, Representatives focusing on issues that
Jones and Patton affected her Congressional district, which
discussed current centered on Cleveland. Among topics
events and legislation. she advocated strongly for were financial
But when there was literacy, access to healthcare, retirement
“politicking to be security, education and children’s issues.
done,” Jones was never She drafted and championed legislation
shy about introducing on child abuse prevention, college campus
herself to others and fire safety, and research and education on
encouraged Patton to uterine fibroids.
do the same. In another landmark achievement, Jones
“She was a good became the first African-American woman
campaigner,” Patton to chair a standing House Committee
said. “She was headed when she chaired the Standards of Official
for bigger things.” Conduct Committee from 2007–2008.

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