John E. Jones III
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

John Edward Jones III (born June 13, 1955) is the 30th President at Dickinson College and a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.


Early life and education

Jones was born in 1955 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and raised in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. He attended
Blue Mountain High School Blue Mountain High School is a rural public high school in Schuylkill Haven in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1957 and renovated from 1999 to 2001. It is part of the Blue Mountain School District. By 2015, enrollment was repor ...
in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. He graduated from
Mercersburg Academy Mercersburg Academy (formerly Marshall College and Mercersburg College) is an independent selective college-preparatory boarding & day high school in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania in the United States. Founded in 1893, the school enrolls approximat ...
and then earned his Bachelor of Arts
degree Degree may refer to: As a unit of measurement * Degree (angle), a unit of angle measurement ** Degree of geographical latitude ** Degree of geographical longitude * Degree symbol (°), a notation used in science, engineering, and mathematics ...
from
Dickinson College , mottoeng = Freedom is made safe through character and learning , established = , type = Private liberal arts college , endowment = $645.5 million (2022) , president = J ...
in 1977 and
Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...
from
Penn State Dickinson Law Penn State Dickinson Law, formerly Dickinson School of Law, is a public law school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It is one of two separately accredited law schools of The Pennsylvania State University. According to Penn State Dickinson Law's 2019 A ...
in 1980.


Career


Attorney

After clerking for Guy A. Bowe, the president-county judge for
Schuylkill County Schuylkill County (, ; Pennsylvania Dutch: Schulkill Kaundi) is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the heart of Pennsylvania's Coal Region and is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the populat ...
from 1980 to 1983, Jones joined the Dolbin & Cori, a law firm. When he was made
partner Partner, Partners, The Partner, or, The Partners may refer to: Books * ''The Partner'' (Grisham novel), by John Grisham, 1997 * ''The Partner'' (Jenaro Prieto novel), 1928 * ''The Partners'' (book), a 1983 book by James B. Stewart * ''Partner'' (m ...
, the name of the firm was changed to Dolbin, Cori & Jones. In 1986, Jones began his own private practice, John Jones & Associates. He spent the next years as a
trial lawyer A lawyer is a person who Practice of law, practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different Jurisdiction, legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney at law, attorney, barrister, canonist, canon l ...
. He also served as
solicitor A solicitor is a legal practitioner who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions. A person must have legally-defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and ...
for several municipalities, including his hometown of Pottsville, and was a part-time assistant Schuylkill County public defender until 1995. From around 1992 until his appointment to the federal bench, Jones served as counsel to the Reading firm of Roland & Schlegel.


Political career

In 1992, Jones unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for the
U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
for the Sixth Congressional District seat and then was co-chair of the transition team for Governor-elect Tom Ridge. Jones was the chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board from 1995 to 2002, a period marked by some controversy. He was part of a failed attempt to privatize state stores, and he banned
Bad Frog Beer Bad Frog Beer is an American beer company founded by Jim Wauldron and based in Rose City, Michigan. Jim Wauldron did not create the beer to begin with. The company that Wauldron worked for was a T-shirt company. Wauldron was a T-shirt designer w ...
after determining that its label (a frog giving the finger) was in bad taste. He briefly considered running for governor in 2001.


Federal judge

Jones was appointed to fill a vacancy on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by President
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
in February 2002. He was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 30 and was commissioned on August 2. He became Chief Judge on June 1, 2020. Before the Kitzmiller decision, he was rumored to be among the top choices for nomination to the US Supreme Court.


''Bair v. Shippensburg'' (2003)

In 2003, Jones heard the case of Shippensburg University students Walt Bair and Ellen Wray, who sued the school in an effort to stop enforcing a speech code. The speech code banned all "acts of intolerance" including racist, sexist and homophobic speech. Jones ruled against the university, explaining that while the code was well intentioned, it went too far in regulating speech. Jones issued an order that prohibited Shippensburg from enforcing four provisions of the Student Code of Conduct. Jones found that the government may not prohibit speech based solely on the impact it will have on the listener.


''Kitzmiller v. Dover'' (2005)

Jones was assigned to the '' Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District'' bench trial, the first direct challenge brought in the federal courts against a school district that mandated the teaching of intelligent design. He was praised by Tom Ridge, former Pennsylvania Governor and former head of the Department of Homeland Security, who said that "I can't imagine a better judge presiding over such an emotionally charged issue ... he has an inquisitive mind, a penetrating intellect and an incredible sense of humor." On December 20, 2005, Jones ruled that the mandate was unconstitutional in a 139-page decision. After the ruling was handed down, some pundits immediately attacked it, notably Bill O'Reilly on Fox News accusing Jones of being a
fascist Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology and Political movement, movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and pol ...
and an activist judge. Casey Luskin and Jonathan Witt of the
Discovery Institute The Discovery Institute (DI) is a politically conservative non-profit think tank based in Seattle, Washington, that advocates the pseudoscientific concept Article available froUniversiteit Gent/ref> of intelligent design (ID). It was founded ...
, and activist Phyllis Schlafly, have leveled similar charges.False judge makes mockery of case for 'intelligent design'
Phyllis Schlafly Townhall.com January 2, 2006
Jones also received death threats as a result of which he and his family were given around-the-clock federal protection. In a speech to the
Anti-Defamation League The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), formerly known as the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, is an international Jewish non-governmental organization based in the United States specializing in civil rights law. It was founded in late Septe ...
on February 10, 2006, he responded to critics who claimed that he had "stabbed the
evangelicals Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...
who got him onto the federal bench right in the back" by noting that his duty was to the Constitution and not to special interest groups. In a November 2006 talk given at Bennington College, Jones again rejected the "activist judge" criticisms and explained the judiciary role and how judges decide cases: In 2008, Jones was awarded the
American Humanist Association The American Humanist Association (AHA) is a non-profit organization in the United States that advances secular humanism. The American Humanist Association was founded in 1941 and currently provides legal assistance to defend the constitutiona ...
's Humanist Religious Liberty Award at the World Humanist Congress in Washington, D.C. In his acceptance speech, Jones explained how he was blasted by Bill O'Reilly, Phyllis Schlafly, and Ann Coulter for the decision in ''Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District''. Jones also remarked on the shortcomings of
civics education Civics is the study of the rights and obligations of citizens in society. The term derives from the Latin word ''civicus'', meaning "relating to a citizen". The term relates to behavior affecting other citizens, particularly in the context of ur ...
and how the American public tends to have a limited understanding of the Constitution and the importance of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and separation of church and state established by the Founding Fathers of the United States. Jones gave his perspective on the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution: " Articles 1 and 2 designate the legislative branch and the executive branch, respectively, as majoritarian—they are subject to the will of the people; they stand in popular elections. But article 3 is counter-majoritarian. The judicial branch protects against the tyranny of the majority. We are a bulwark against public opinion. And that was very much done with a purpose, and I think that it really has withstood the test of time. The judiciary is a check against the unconstitutional abuse and extension of power by the other branches of government." Jones added that
Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757July 12, 1804) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first United States secretary of the treasury from 1789 to 1795. Born out of wedlock in Charlest ...
himself remarked: "Enthusiasm is certainly a very good thing but religious enthusiasm is, at least, a dangerous instrument."Judge John E. Jones III, Inexorably toward Trial: Reflections on the Dover Case and the "Least Dangerous Branch," The Humanist, January/February 2009. .


''Whitewood v. Wolf'' (2014)

In 2014, Jones presided over ''Deb Whitewood et al. v. Michael Wolf'', a case in which the plaintiffs sought relief from Pennsylvania's Marriage Laws (23 Pa. C.S. § 1102). He delivered an opinion striking down the Pennsylvania statute barring same-sex marriage on May 20, 2014, on grounds that it unconstitutionally infringed the plaintiffs rights of due process and equal protection guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He did not attach a stay to his order, so the decision would be immediately effective. In 2014, Jones appeared on CNN to discuss same-sex marriage and the law he anticipated would be applied by the U.S. Supreme Court.


Personal life

Jones is a Lutheran of
Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
descent. He married his wife, Beth Ann, in 1982. They have two children, and three grandchildren. He has a share in a business operated by others in his family, Distinct Golf, which runs five golf courses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Jones is a member of the board of regents of
Mercersburg Academy Mercersburg Academy (formerly Marshall College and Mercersburg College) is an independent selective college-preparatory boarding & day high school in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania in the United States. Founded in 1893, the school enrolls approximat ...
and the 30th president of
Dickinson College , mottoeng = Freedom is made safe through character and learning , established = , type = Private liberal arts college , endowment = $645.5 million (2022) , president = J ...
, a private, residential
liberal arts college A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on undergraduate study in liberal arts and sciences. Such colleges aim to impart a broad general knowledge and develop general intellectual capac ...
in
Carlisle, Pennsylvania Carlisle is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2020 United States census, ...
. Jones also serves as co-chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Judicial Independence. He was appointed by Chief Justice Roberts to the Judicial Security Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States.


Awards, positions, and honors

*Member of the
Raven's Claw The Raven's Claw is an all-male senior honorary society at Dickinson College. It was founded in 1896, making it the first society unique to Dickinson College and one of the oldest in the country. Membership is limited to seven senior men who are s ...
Honorary Society at
Dickinson College , mottoeng = Freedom is made safe through character and learning , established = , type = Private liberal arts college , endowment = $645.5 million (2022) , president = J ...
*Former board member and president-elect of the
National Alcohol Beverage Control Association The National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) was established in 1938 as the nationwide organization representing the interests of alcoholic beverage control states or monopoly sale states in the United States. NABCA's stated mission ...
(resigned when appointed to federal bench). *Distinguished Alumnus Award, Dickinson School of Law *Welsh Citizen of the Year Award, St. David's Society of Schuylkill and Carbon Counties. *Former assistant Scoutmaster and other positions in the Boy Scouts of America *2006, included in '' Time'' magazine's 100 Most Influential People of the Year. *2007, honorary doctorate, Muhlenberg College. *Board of trustees, Dickinson College *Board of directors, Federal Judges Association *Board of directors, Justice at Stake *2008,
American Humanist Association The American Humanist Association (AHA) is a non-profit organization in the United States that advances secular humanism. The American Humanist Association was founded in 1941 and currently provides legal assistance to defend the constitutiona ...
Humanist Religious Liberty Award. *2009, President's Medal, Geological Society of America.


References


External links

*
John E. Jones III biography via United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
*

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20060620010243/http://www.dickinson.edu/commencement/2006/honjones.html Honorary degree citation for Judge Jones by Dickinson College, May 21, 2006br>Judge Jones on Judicial Independence
From a speech given by Jones to the Anti-Defamation League's National Executive Committee Meeting, February 10, 2006
Judge John E. Jones at Procapitalism U.S.A.Written opinion of the United States District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania in the case of Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School
(PDF format from
Findlaw FindLaw is a business of Thomson Reuters that provides online legal information and online marketing services for law firms. FindLaw was created by Stacy Stern, Martin Roscheisen, and Tim Stanley in 1995, and was acquired by Thomson West in 2001. ...
)
Written opinion of the United States District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania in the case of Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School
(HTML format from
TalkOrigins The TalkOrigins Archive is a website that presents mainstream science perspectives on the antievolution claims of young-earth, old-earth, and "intelligent design" creationists. With sections on evolution, creationism, geology, astronomy and hom ...
)
Radio interview of Judge Jones
Time magazine's "TIME 100: The People Who Shape Our World"
Video of Judge Jones on Judicial Independence - Difficult Dialogues series
September 26, 2006. * September 25, 2008.
Decision in ''Whitewood v. Wolf''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, John Edward III 1955 births Living people American Lutherans American people of Welsh descent Candidates in the 1992 United States elections 20th-century American politicians Dickinson College alumni Dickinson School of Law alumni Judges of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania lawyers Pennsylvania Republicans People from Pottsville, Pennsylvania Public defenders United States district court judges appointed by George W. Bush 21st-century American judges Critics of creationism