Dickinson President Shares Insights on Judicial Independence
Bernice B. Donald, former judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and Dickinson President John E. Jones III '77, P'11, on stage at the General Counsel Summit US. Photo courtesy of Economist Enterprise.
President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11 Served Nearly 20 Years as a Federal Judge
by Craig Layne
Dickinson President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, discussed the critical role of judicial independence as part of a panel at the General Counsel Summit US, an event organized by The Economist. The fifth annual edition of the summit took place Sept. 15 in New York City with more than 500 general counsels and other legal decision-makers from leading organizations gathering to hear from Jones, a former federal judge, and dozens of other expert speakers.
Before leading his alma mater, Jones served as chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He joined Bernice B. Donald, a former judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, for a fireside chat on judicial independence and the rule of law. The Economist’s U.S. Editor and New York Bureau Chief Charlotte Howard moderated the conversation.
Both Donald and Jones are members of the Article III Coalition, a group of roughly 60 retired federal judges from both major political parties who focus on the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary and who want to see an end to political vitriol against judges. Named for the constitutional article establishing the judicial branch, the coalition is part of Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan civic education organization committed to the vitality of America’s democracy.
“The ability of federal judges to rule without fear or favor, based solely on the law and facts before them, is central to the concept of judicial independence in the United States,” says Jones. “Unfortunately, the toxic rhetoric emanating from the highest political levels is fomenting a dangerous environment for judges that threatens their safety, as well as that of their family members. It is incumbent upon all members of the legal profession to push back against this climate, which is tearing at the fabric of the rule of law in this country.”
Jones is a sought-after commentator on legal affairs for the national and international media. He is a frequent guest on CNN and MS Now, discussing everything from Supreme Court decisions to high-profile criminal cases. His recent analysis of the court cases involving mail-in voting has appeared in more than 170 media outlets, including USA Today and the Miami Herald. He has discussed judicial security on CBS’s 60 Minutes, and in July, Jones participated in the Promise of Democracy 250th Summit, hosted by the Committee of Seventy in Philadelphia.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published September 17, 2026