Malachi C. Jones

Malachi C. Jones

Doctor of Laws

The Honourable Malachi C. Jones, B.A., LL.B., Q.C., was born in Rockingham, Halifax County, Nova Scotia in 1929, son of the late Alexander William Jones and Lillian Agatha (Lyons). Educated at Rockingham Public School, Saint Patrick's High School (1946); Saint Mary's University (1946-1948, 1969-1970 B.A.); and Dalhousie University Law School (1948-1951) from which he graduated second in his class at the age of twenty-one.

Mr. Jones articled with Walter Barss, K.C., of Halifax before transferring to the Department of Attorney General of Nova Scotia where he articled with the late John A.Y. MacDonald, Q.C., Deputy Attorney General. Mr. Jones was admitted to the Bar in 1952 and he continued to practice with the Department specializing in litigation. He was appointed Senior Solicitor. From 1966-1967, Jones held the appointment of Legislative Counsel for Nova Scotia which entailed the drafting and approval of all bills introduced at the Provincial Legislature. In this position, he was responsible for the 1967 Revision of the Nova Scotia Statues. He also initiated the formation of a committee of the bar for the revision of the Rules of Civil Procedure in the Supreme Court. He was a member of this committee which was chaired by Chief Justice Cowan of the Supreme Court Trial Division. This led to a compete revision of the rules which became a model followed by other provinces in Canada. In 1967, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Attorney General and Queen's Counsel; in 1969, Associate Deputy Attorney General. In this position, his duties involved the supervision of the public prosecutions throughout the Province, including the conduct of Crown Appeals to the Appeal Division of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. During his years of practice with the Department, Mr. Jones appeared on numerous occasions before the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia as well as the Supreme Court of Canada and various provincial administrative boards. He served as solicitor for all government departments and boards, including the Nova Scotia Housing Commission and the Fisherman's Loan Board.

In 1965, Mr. Jones was appointed solicitor to the Nova Scotia Barrister's Society, a post he held until 1966. He acted as the Attorney General's representative of the Council of the Barrister's Society and served as a representative of Nova Scotia on the conference of Commissioners of Uniformity of Legislation in Canada. Mr. Jones was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Trial Division on the 31 July 1970, was elevated to the Appeal Division on the 9 March 1979 and to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal on the 13 January 1993. He retired from the bench on the 15 August 1998. He was granted permission to retain the title of "Honourable" by the Governor-General of Canada.

Mr. Jones has lectured at Both St. Mary's and Dalhousie Universities. At the latter, he taught Criminal Law and Procedure from 1959 to the 1970's and in 1966 was appointed Associate Professor. Other lectures were on the Constitution of the Courts and on the Financial Responsibility of Automobile Owners.

Mr. Jones served as Vice-Chairman of the Halifax Housing Authority and also on the Board of the Home of the Good Shepherd in Halifax. He was a member of the St. Agnes Parish for many years and is presently a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Rockingham. He has been a member of the choir of both parishes for over forty years. He was a co-ordinator of the drive to erect the present St. Agnes Church and Rectory. Mr Jones was President of Saint Mary's Alumni Association from 1963 to 1965, before serving as a member of the Board of Governors from 1966 to 1970. During this time, he was a member of the committee to establish a new legislative regime for the University. He is member and past president of the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax; also a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association.

Mr. Jones married Anne Marie MacDonald of Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1952 and they have nine children: Rosanne, Barbara, Maureen, Sheila, Colleen, Monica, Jennifer, Stephanie, and Stephen. Eight are University graduates and five hold teaching degrees while Colleen is the current Canadian Curling Champion. A university education was strongly promoted in the Jones household. All the children are married and there are twenty grandchildren.

Justice Jones is certainly a model Alumnus and a superb role model for St. Mary's students.