VOLUSIA EXPOSED.COM

Assistant County Attorney Nancye Jones is an official nominee for a Seventh Circuit Court Judgeship. Is this assignment another possible conflict of the public's interest ?

Updated April 28, 2010

“Heaven is above all yet; there sits a judge That no king can corrupt.”-William Shakespeare



UPDATE April 28, 2010 - Assistant County Attorney Nancye Jones was NOT selected to replace Judge Doyle. Congrats go out to our new Circuit Court Judge, Mr. Terence R. Perkins.



Apparently Assistant County Attorney Nancye R. Jones has applied and been chosen by the nominating committee as a candidate for a Seventh Judicial Circuit Judgeship. Please see the below application letter.



Nancye's, along with five other finalist names have been forwarded to Governor Crist for consideration for appointment. Although we congratulate Nancye on her nomination, we are left wondering if she is putting herself in a conflict of interest position, similar to that of
Judge J. Piggotte of the Seventh Judicial Circuit.
Back in November 2007 it came to the attention of the media (Daytona Beach News Journal), that apparently Judge Piggotte's husband was working part time for the Seventh Circuit's Office of the State Attorney. Apparently Judge Piggotte's husband was involved in assisting the State Attorney in the prosecution / investigation of some criminal cases and such created a perception of a conflict of interest. Apparently in response to a pending JQC (Judicial Qualification Committee)complaint on the apparent conflict of interest issue, Judge Piggotte removed herself from hearing any criminal cases. Judge Piggotte now apparently only hears civil cases.
We have concerns that Nancye will find herself in the same position. Nancye's husband is a high ranking member of the Volusia County Sheriff Department. As the reader can see by the attached organizational chart of the VCSO, it appears the Major Robert Jones is in charge of the "Law Enforcement Services" branch of the VCSO. It appears that all the sheriff office districts report directly to him. Therefore it is hard for us to imagine that he would not have direct insider knowledge or participation in all arrests made by the VCSO.
Please see the attached Organizational Chart for the VCSO.


We believe it also of significance that Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson wrote a letter of recommendation to the Judicial Nominating Committee. Don't these officials see the apparent conflict of interest should Nancye secure the judgeship? There appears to be many (to many to mention here) possible conflict perceptions that would be against the public interest. Are the taxpayers going to get stuck again with a judge that can only hear civil cases? What is that going to do to the criminal case load? Is this going to improperly influence the State Attorney to make more plea bargains with criminals due to the lack of judges able to hear criminal cases? If you as the reader agree, we would ask that you make contact with the governing officials as listed below.



Governor Charlie Crist

Judicial Qualification Committee (JQC)

Due to the importance of this matter to the Volusia County community - we have asked for additional public records on this matter. Therefore, we anticipate that this page will be further updated as those records arrive. You are encouraged to return for those updates.