April D. Jones named CWBA Foundation honoree for courageous leadership

The Colorado Women’s Bar Association Foundation has selected April D. Jones, founder and CEO of Jones Law Firm, PC, as a 2026 Raising the Bar honoree in the Courageous Leader of Today category. The recognition lands during a milestone year in which Jones is set to become the first Black woman elected vice president of the Colorado Bar Association and is helping shape Colorado’s approach to legal technology and artificial intelligence.

Why it matters: - The honor spotlights a Colorado lawyer whose influence now spans family law, bar leadership, court policy and public service. - Jones is poised to become the first Black woman elected vice president of the Colorado Bar Association in its 130-year history. - Jones is also expected to become the first Black woman president of the approximately 30,000-member organization in 2027. - The recognition comes as debates over diversity, access and inclusion continue to reshape the legal profession.

What happened: - The Colorado Women’s Bar Association Foundation selected April D. Jones as a 2026 Raising the Bar honoree under its Courageous Leader of Today pillar. - The announcement was made at the Colorado Women’s Bar Association Convention on May 16, 2026. - The award will be presented Sept. 16, 2026, at the 20th Annual Raising the Bar Celebration at the Denver Art Museum. - Jones is founder and CEO of Jones Law Firm, PC. - Jones is one of four honorees chosen this year, with each honoree tied to one of the Foundation’s four pillars.

The details: - The Foundation’s Courageous Leader of Today pillar honors a woman leading through social, political, economic or institutional adversity with integrity and impact. - The 2026 celebration runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 at the Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, CO 80204. - This year’s theme is “Twenty Years of Raising the Bar: Women Who Built, Led, and Transformed Our Legal Community.” - The Foundation has operated since 1988 to advance women in law and to use the legal profession to protect and promote the welfare of all women. - Jones was appointed in January 2026 by Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez to the newly established Colorado Supreme Court Legal Technology Advisory Committee. - That committee is developing guidance on responsible use of artificial intelligence and emerging technology across Colorado’s legal system. - The committee’s initial recommendations are due to the Chief Justice by Oct. 1, 2026. - Earlier in 2026, Jones was featured in Colorado Super Lawyers magazine, which recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in the state. - Jones leads a 44-person family law firm in its 25th year. - Jones Law Firm, PC was founded in 2000 and has handled more than 4,000 family law matters. - The firm purchased and renovated a building in 2025 for expanded operations. - The firm serves clients across Colorado and focuses on divorce, child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, property division, protection orders, mediation, prenuptial agreements, post-decree modifications, enforcement, contempt, relocation disputes, paternity and related family law matters. - Jones Law Firm uses a team-based representation model with attorneys, paralegals and support staff collaborating on each case.

Between the lines: - Jones’s selection reflects a broader profile that combines courtroom practice with institutional influence. - Her leadership roles place her in the middle of major conversations about legal ethics, technology and access to justice. - The honor also underscores how bar associations and legal foundations are elevating leaders who are shaping both the profession and the systems around it. - Wendy E. Weigler, the 2026 Raising the Bar chair, said the Foundation is proud to honor Jones and called her a courageous leader of today, yesterday and tomorrow.

What’s next: - Jones will be formally honored at the Sept. 16 celebration in Denver. - The Colorado Supreme Court Legal Technology Advisory Committee is scheduled to deliver its first recommendations by Oct. 1, 2026. - Jones is set to assume the Colorado Bar Association vice presidency in 2026 and the presidency in 2027. - Jones will continue serving on the Colorado Supreme Court Standing Committee on Rules of Professional Conduct, the UCHealth Board of Directors, the Kent Denver School Board and the U.S. District Court Vacancy Committee.

The bottom line: - April D. Jones is being recognized not just for legal success, but for becoming a visible power center in Colorado law at a moment when the profession is being reshaped.