“I’m just looking forward to serving Columbiana County in a different capacity,” she said Friday after her swearing-in ceremony.

“My goal will be to help families moving through a difficult period in their lives and work hard to allow them to move forward in a positive manner,” Jones said.

The Boardman High School grad who still resides in Boardman earned both her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her law degree from Ohio Northern University. She joined the Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office in May 1998 as an assistant prosecutor and remained the last 27 1/2 years, even handling a case earlier Friday before taking the oath for her new job, which starts Monday.

Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam appointed her to replace Domestic Relations Magistrate J. Bradley Allison, who’s retiring with his last day on the job next Friday. Washam said since he became judge many years ago, he’s had the opportunity to observe Jones in the courtroom and see for himself her passion and integrity. Just that morning, he said she changed her recommendation to community control for a defendant who was apparently doing better and that’s just one example.

Members of the Columbiana County Common Pleas Court judiciary pose for a photo with their newest member, Domestic Relations Magistrate Tammie Riley Jones, who was sworn into office Friday. Pictured from left are Common Pleas Court Judges Scott Washam and Megan Bickerton, Jones, Seventh District Court of Appeals Judge Carol Ann Robb and Domestic Relations Magistrates Lynsey Lyle-Opalenik and J. Bradley Allison. Jones will take the bench occupied by Allison, who’s retiring. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

“She has a strong moral compass,” Washam said.

Jones asked her pastor, Tim Paroz of Mount Olivet United Church of Christ in North Lima, to say a prayer at the beginning and at the end of the ceremony. Seventh District Court of Appeals Judge Carol Ann Robb, who previously served in Columbiana County as a Domestic Relations Magistrate and Municipal Court Judge, had the honor of administering the oath of office while Jones’ three children, Katie, Steven and David Jones held the Bible.

Salem Police Sgt. Mike Garber assisted Jones in donning her judicial robe for the first time.

Jones said she was grateful to Judge Washam for entrusting her with the responsibility as magistrate She heard Allison was retiring and gave the idea considerable thought. Even as a busy assistant prosecutor, she was still involved in domestic relations court as a guardian ad litem. For some reason, the opportunity presented itself.

As she addressed her family members, fellow members of the judiciary, co-workers and friends, she had plenty of thanks to go around, to Allison wishing him the best in his retirement, to Robb for being there, for her friends for their support and encouragement, for her colleagues at the prosecutor’s office for becoming like family, everyone in the judiciary, the staff and fellow Domestic Relations Magistrate Lynsey Lyle-Opalenik for their support and to her family for pushing her to keep going. She called her family her greatest inspiration and the biggest accomplishment of her life.

“I will be committed to doing the right thing always and serving the families of Columbiana County in a way that’s fair and just results, but most importantly, keeping children safe,” Jones said.