Journalist in Residence

Join the Tim Russert Department of Communication and the Department of Political Science as they welcome Pete Williams, acclaimed former NBC News correspondent for the Supreme Court and Department of Justice, back to campus for an exciting lineup of presentations covering topics from the Supreme Court to civil liberties.

The Supreme Mixer: Pete Williams, Pizza, & Pre-Law

• Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 p.m. – Lombardo Student Center, Jardine Room

Beginning with a Q&A session between Pete Williams and Dr. Colin Swearingen (Department of Political Science), followed by a networking event for legal professionals and students interested in Pre-Law.

The 6-3 Split: How the Supreme Court is Reshaping Federal Power

• Thursday, March 26, 7:00 p.m. – Dolan Science Center, Donahue Auditorium

Featuring Pete Williams and Sarah Isgur, ABC News contributor, published author, and former Director of the Office of Public Affairs for the Department of Justice.

John Carroll University welcomes Journalist in Residence Pete Williams, the acclaimed former NBC News Supreme Court and Justice Department Correspondent, back to campus for the Fall 2025 semester.

This will be Williams' sixth visit to campus, where he will lead a week of engaging events open to the entire John Carroll community. Drawing on decades of experience as one of the nation's most respected journalists, Williams will offer unique insights into the changing media landscape, his time covering the Supreme Court, and other timely topics, including tariffs and global policy.

Join us for this exciting opportunity to hear firsthand from a trusted voice in American journalism and take part in thought-provoking conversations that bridge the classroom and the newsroom.

Anchored in Truth: Covering the Changing Landscape of Political Media

• Monday, September 29, 7:00 p.m. – Donahue Auditorium, Dolan Science Center

Networking Power Hours for Legal Professionals

• Tuesday, September 30, 7:00 p.m. – O'Malley Atrium

Tariffs, Trade, and Trump: What Happens When Policy Meets the Press

• Thursday, October 2, 7:00 p.m. – Donahue Auditorium, Dolan Science Center

How Has Political Journalism Changed Since Russert?

• Monday, April 7, 7:00 p.m. – Donahue Auditorium, Dolan Center for Science & Technology

Pete Williams, Chuck Todd, Former Moderator of Meet the Press and Chief Political Analyst for NBC News, Joe Toohey '10, Anchor, Fox 8 News Cleveland, and former "Meet the Press" Fellows will lead a thought-provoking panel on the evolution of political journalism since the iconic Tim Russert era. This event is also accessible via Zoom.

Environmental Politics

• Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. – Donahue Auditorium, Dolan Center for Science & Technology & via Zoom

Williams will moderate a panel discussion on Environmental Politics, featuring Alexandria Nichols, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Cleveland, Jesús Sanchez, Director of the Great Lakes Environmental Justice Program and Restore America's Estuaries, and Philip Stoddard, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Florida International University and former Mayor of South Miami. The panelists will explore practical political actions individuals can take to address the climate crisis. This event is part of the Envisioning a Livable Future conference series organized by John Carroll University, in collaboration with the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago. To learn more, please visit our website.

View the discussion here.

A Conversation with Former NBC News Correspondent Pete Williams

A conversation with WKYC's Russ Mitchell at The City Club of Cleveland

Presidential Powers, Civil Liberties, and Guns: The Supreme Court & the Trump Agenda

• Thursday, April 10, 7:00 p.m. – Jardine Room, Lombardo Student Center

Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters, the C. Blake McDowell, Jr. Professor of Law at the University of Akron, will join Williams for a session titled, "Presidential Powers, Civil Liberties, and Guns: The Supreme Court & the Trump Agenda," where they will explore critical Supreme Court cases, presidential power, and civil liberties under recent administrations.

Zoom Recording – Passcode: f@1N58=!

Looking Behind, Peering Ahead – What's Going on at the Supreme Court?

JCU's Journalist in Residence, Pete Williams, and Jonathan Adler, JD, legal scholar and law professor at Case Western Reserve University took part in a panel discussion on the current happenings at the U.S. Supreme Court. The discussion was moderated by Colin Swearingen, PhD, Professor of Political Science at JCU.

This event was sponsored by the Department of Political Science, the Tim Russert Department of Communication, and the College of Arts & Sciences.

Tim Russert: One Man's Impact on the Nation - Virtual Exhibit Launch

Tim Russert was many things - an Emmy Award-winning news broadcaster, an alum of John Carroll University, a Catholic, and a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan. A digital exhibit showcasing numerous historically significant and previously unseen items was launched, honoring Russert's life and legacy.

• View the unveiling
• Read The Carroll News story on the event
• Explore the Russert Archive

Insurrection & Immunity: How the Supreme Court Could Affect the 2024 Presidential Election

A panel discussion featuring Pete Williams, JCU Journalist in Residence and former NBC News correspondent for the Department of Justice and Supreme Court, and Lee Fisher, Dean of Cleveland State University College of Law and former Attorney General of Ohio. Moderated by Dr. Colin Swearingen, Professor of Political Science.

Guns, Religion & More: Pete Williams Previews the Supreme Court Docket

An Evening with Pete Williams

The Tim Russert I Knew

A special showing of the documentary "Tim Russert: The John Carroll Years" which details the tremendous impact that Russert had on the University.