Gwendlyne Young Jones, is a native of Duncan, South Carolina. She is a graduate of James F. Byrnes High School. Judge Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Judge Jones served as an Assistant Public Defender and Interim Chief Public Defender from 1989-1995. She opened a private practice in 1995, with primary areas of practice in family and criminal law matters. She received a Kellogg grant with the Department of Social Services and managed the representation of the Agency in the termination of parental rights. In February of 2010, she was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly as Family Court Judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

She is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, Richland County Bar Association, South Carolina Black Lawyers Association, John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court and South Carolina Women Lawyers Association.

Judge Jones has served as President of the South Carolina Conference of Family Court Judges, and is currently a member of the Family Court Judges Advisory Committee. 

In her free time, Judge Jones enjoys event planning, cooking, and spending time with her family.