Judge John E. Jones ’77 was among those recognized at the American Bar Association’s 2008 Silver Gavel Award ceremony for contributing to the award-winning NOVA documentary “Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial”. The award acknowledges books, commentaries, documentaries and articles that foster greater public understanding of the law.

Judge John E. Jones '77 (right), with fellow honorees Chief Newsweek Political Correspondent Howard Fineman (left), and CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin (center) at the Aug. 5 ABA Silver Gavel Awards ceremony.

A federal judge in Pennsylvania who was appointed by President Bush, Jones presided over a six-week trial in 2005 in which he struck down the Dover Area School Board’s proposal to teach intelligent design in public schools as an alternative to Darwin’s theory of evolution. The case captured international media attention and sparked heated and ongoing public debate, placing Jones at the helm of one of the decade’s most widely noted rulings.

For the NOVA documentary, Jones consulted extensively with producers to ensure that they accurately described the complicated legal matters involved in the landmark case. He also appeared in the show, which first aired on PBS Nov. 13, 2007. 

The award ceremony was held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 5.

For more information:

• News release about the award
• Official Web site for the Silver Gavel Awards
• Official Web site for “Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial"
  

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