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John E. Jones

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This page is about the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania judge. For other judges with this name, please see John Jones.
John E. Jones
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Current Court Information:
United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Title:   Judge
Position:   Seat #1
Station:   Willamsport, PA
Service:
Appointed by:   George W. Bush
Approval vote:   96-0
Active:   07/31/2002 - Present
Preceded by:   James McClure
Personal History
Born:   1955
Home State:   Pottsville, PA
Bachelors:   Dickinson College, B.A., 1977
Law School:   Dickinson Law, J.D., 1980

Contents

John E. Jones, III is a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He joined the court in 2002 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.

Early life and education

A native Pennsylvanian, Jones graduated from Dickinson College with his Bachelor's Degree in 1977 and his juris doctorate degree in 1980. [1]

Professional career

Jones spent his entire pre-judicial legal career as a Private practice licensed in the State of Pennsylvania from 1980 to 2002. Jones also served as a part-time Law clerk for Common Pleas Judge Guy Bowe in the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas from 1980 to 1984 and also served as a part-time Assistant public defender for the Pennsylvania Public Defender's Office from 1984 to 1995. Jones also served as a Executive officer for Phoenix Contracting Co. & Affiliated Corporations from 1980 to 2002 and the Director of Union Bank and Trust Company from 1993 to 2002. Jones also served as the chairman for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board from 1995 to 2002. [1]

Judicial career

Middle District of Pennsylvania

On the unanimous recommendation of Pennsylvania U.S. Senators Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter, Jones was nominated by President George W. Bush on February 28, 2002 to a seat vacated by James McClure as McClure assumed senior status. Jones was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 29, 2002 on a unopposed 96-0 vote and received commission on July 31, 2002[2]. [1]

Notable cases

The notable case section on this page needs to be reformatted.



Intelligent design

In 2005, Jones presided over the case of Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District. This case was the first federal court challenge against a public school district that had required the teaching of intelligent design, a religious alternative to evolution. Judge Jones found for the plaintiff, and delivered a scathing rebuke to the school board, whom he stated had "poorly served" their district.[3][4]

Judicial philosophy

Judge Jones was profiled in the April 19, 2010 edition of The Republican Herald since his chambers, along with the rest of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, are moving towards a paperless court. As the courthouse is renovating, every judge will now have a electronic organizing system in which they can access each case with the click of a mouse. Jones said: "I can foresee in 10 years that every chamber will be like these chambers. We're predominantly bookless. We don't have huge files hanging around." Also, the new system allows judges to take their chambers on the road if they have to preside in a different court.[5]

See also

External links

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by:
James McClure
Middle District of Pennsylvania
2002–Current
Seat #1
Succeeded by:
NA


PennsylvaniaSupreme Court of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Superior CourtPennsylvania Commonwealth CourtPennsylvania Court of Common PleasPennsylvania Magisterial DistrictsPhiladelphia Municipal CourtPhiladelphia Traffic CourtPittsburgh Municipal CourtUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of PennsylvaniaUnited States District Court for the Middle District of PennsylvaniaUnited States District Court for the Western District of PennsylvaniaUnited States bankruptcy court, Eastern District of PennsylvaniaUnited States bankruptcy court, Middle District of PennsylvaniaUnited States bankruptcy court, Western District of PennsylvaniaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitPennsylvania countiesPennsylvania judicial newsPennsylvania judicial electionsJudicial selection in PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaTemplate.jpg
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