Judge Clyde E. Jones was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Judge Jones has two daughters, Attorney Jakarra Jones and Miss Jasmine J. Jones, a Human Resource Officer.

Judge Jones was educated in the Birmingham Public Schools. After attending Parker and Ramsey High schools, Judge Jones matriculated at Knoxville College in Knoxville, Tennessee where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1976. Judge Jones took steps to further his education by enrolling in Cumberland School of Law at Samford University where he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1979.

Since completing law school, Judge Jones has served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Tenth Judicial Circuit and an Assistant District Attorney in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Judge Jones also served as a partner in the law firm of Penick, Williams and Jones before opening his own law firm, Law Offices of Clyde E. Jones, P.C., in 1987. Judge Jones has been an active member of the bar and the community. He served the Magic City Bar Association ("MCBA") as President in 1989, and has also served as the MCBA's representative to the Birmingham Bar Association's Increased Minority Participation Committee. During his tenure as President, he created the scholarship program that has evolved to the Magic City Bar Scholarship Banquet. Judge Jones has worked tirelessly within the Birmingham Bar Association serving in various capacities, which include Chairman of the Criminal Justice and Procedures Committee (1994-1995), Chairman of the Municipal Courts Committee, Member of the Fee Arbitration Committee (1998-1999), Grievance Committee (1997-1998), Executive Committee (1994-1995), and Birmingham Bar Foundation (1996-1997). Judge Jones has also been a member of the Greater Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Judge Jones is a 1989 graduate of Leadership Birmingham, and has served a three-year term on Leadership Birmingham's Members Council. Additionally, in 2005, he was appointed to a three (3) year term on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Symphonic Association, in 2006 to the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama, as well as the Advisory Board for the Cumberland School of Law. Other accomplishments have included being a 2003 graduate of the National Judicial College, Member of the American Judicature Society, the Alabama Law Institute, Jefferson County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee and the Alabama Sentencing Commission. In 2004 Judge Jones was selected as a member of the Shades Valley Rotary Club and in November 2006 was selected as a Paul Harris Fellow, and elected in 2008 as a Board Member At Large.

During the late 80s and through the 90s, while a practicing criminal defense attorney, Judge Jones won several serious felony and capital murder trials. Some of which involved multiple defendants and multiple capital charges. As a testament to his fine character, integrity and diligence as a lawyer, Judge Jones was appointed as a Circuit Judge in Jefferson County on May 6, 2002, and elected county wide in November 2004. Since taking the bench, Judge Jones has served the public well, creating Litter and Environmental Squad programs to help clean up the county, and a Court Day program to help educate the public about the court system in Jefferson County. In honor of his service to the bar and the community, Judge Jones has received numerous awards including the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Freedom Fighter Award, the Magic City Bar Association`s 2004 Scroll Award, and the 2007 Fairfield Chamber of Commerce Civic Leader of the Year Award. Additionally, in October of 2007 the Alabama Supreme Court appointed Judge Jones to serve a three (3) year term on the Advisory Committee of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure.

In May, 2009, Judge Jones completed the Capital Litigation Faculty Development seminar, sponsored by the National Judicial College, and also serves on its faculty. In August of 2009, Judge Jones completed the Search & Seizure of Computers and Digital Evidence seminar for trial judges, sponsored by the National Center for Justice and The Rule of Law.