President John E. Jones III '77, P'11, Appears on ‘60 Minutes’
President John E. Jones III '77, P'11, appeared on '60 Minutes' on CBS on March 1, 2026. Screenshot courtesy CBS '60 Minutes.'
President Jones Discusses Threats Against Judges
by Craig Layne
Former federal judge and Dickinson President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, shared his concerns for the safety of the federal judiciary in a report on CBS’s 60 Minutes that aired on March 1.
"In very plain English, if we're not careful we're going to get a judge killed. It's just that stark," Jones told correspondent Bill Whitaker.
The story on television’s oldest and most-watched newsmagazine focused on the increase in threats to federal judges, especially judges who rule against the Trump administration.
CBS News reported 400 federal judges were targets of serious threats in the last year, a 78% increase in four years.
“This is such a toxic environment, where people are taking arms, and can identify where a judge lives—can strike out against that judge or the judge's family members,” Jones said.
Jones is a member of the Article III Coalition, a group of nearly 60 retired federal judges who focus on the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary and who want to see an end to political vitriol against judges.
Jones is a sought-after voice in the national and international media. In addition to his 60 Minutes appearance, he has recently shared insight with the CNN programs Anderson Cooper 360 and News Central. He co-authored an opinion piece in the New York Times on the principles that should serve as the foundation of the legal profession, and his writing on grand jury independence appeared in The Hill. He has also appeared lately on the Bloomberg Law podcast, and he has been quoted in Newsweek. Separately, his extended interviews in The Conversation on grand juries and the constitutionality of Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics have been republished more than 170 times across outlets worldwide including Fortune and Salon.
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Published March 2, 2026