John McConnell
| John McConnell | |
| Current Court Information: | |
| United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island | |
| Title: | Judge |
| Position: | Seat #2 |
| Service: | |
| Appointed by: | Barack Obama |
| Approval vote: | 50-44 |
| Active: | 5/4/2011 - Current |
| Preceded by: | Ernest Torres |
| Personal History | |
| Born: | 1958 |
| Home State: | Providence, RI |
| Undergraduate: | Brown University '80 |
| Law School: | Case Western Reserve University '83 |
Contents |
John J. McConnell, Jr. is a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
Federal judgeship nomination
McConnell was nominated by President Obama on March 10, 2010 to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island vacated by Ernest Torres. [1] Obama said of the nomination, "I am honored to put forward [this] highly qualified candidate for the federal bench." [2]
McConnell was recommended for nomination by Rhode Island's Democratic senators, Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse. In a joint statement Reed and Whitehouse said, "Jack McConnell is a brilliant legal mind and an outstanding community leader. We believe he possesses the experience, intellect and temperament to be a great judge on the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island. He has gotten strong support from both sides of the aisle in Rhode Island and we hope his confirmation will proceed smoothly". [3]
A majority of the 15-member judicial rating committee of the American Bar Association rated McConnell "qualified", with a minority rating him "not qualified" and three members abstaining from the vote. [4][5]
Judiciary Committee hearing
McConnell had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 13, 2010. He was closely questioned about his background as an "outspoken Democrat" and plaintiff’s lawyer, and whether those things in his past would affect his impartiality on the bench. McConnell responded with a commitment "to impartiality, to fairness and to the rule of law." [6]
Senator Orrin Hatch expressed concern over McConnell's average-to-low ratings from the American Bar Association. [6]
Nomination opposition
The United States Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, among other groups, are opposed to McConnell's nomination. [7] They cite his career as a trial lawyer to suggest he is biased against business defendants. [8][9][10] Several members of the Senate Judiciary Committee were dismissive of the Chamber of Commerce's concerns, including Jeff Sessions, who said "I don’t dismiss it lightly, but when you’re involved in litigation of this intensity, sometimes hard feelings can occur." [6]
Nomination returned to President
On August 5, 2010, the Senate returned the nomination of McConnell to President Obama, refusing to debate and offer a vote before the body adjourned for its month-long recess.[11] The President renominated McConnell on September 13, 2010. The nomination must be reheard by the Senate Judiciary Committee before going to the full Senate for a vote.[12]
Nomination resubmitted
On September 13, 2010, President Obama again submitted McConnell's nomination to the U.S. Senate. [13]
On September 23, 2010, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-6 to send McConnell's nomination to the U.S. Senate for a vote. [14][15]
Nomination returned to President
McConnell's nomination was returned to the President at the end of the 111th congress.
Nomination resubmitted
President Obama resubmitted the nomination on January 5, 2011.
Confirmation
McConnell was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 50-44 vote on May 4, 2011.[16]
Personal life
McConnell earned his A.B. from Brown University in 1980 and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1983. [2]
McConnell and his wife have made campaign contributions to Democratic candidates approaching $700,000 over the past 20 years, including almost $160,000 to elect Democrats during the 2008 campaigns. Among other donations, the McConnell's gave a total of $15,500 to the Obama campaign in 2008, $8,800 to Senator Reed's 2008 re-election campaign and $8,400 to Whitehouse’s 2006 election campaign. [3]
Professional career
- Law clerk for the Honorable Donald Shea of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
- Private practice at the Providence firm of Mandell, Goodman, Famiglietti & Schwartz
- Private practice as managing partner with the firm now known as Motley Rice LLC [2]
Judicial career
District of Rhode Island
Judge McConnell was nominated by President Barack Obama on January 5, 2011, to a seat vacated by Judge Ernest Torres. He was then confirmed by the Senate on May 4, 2011, and received commission the next day.[17]
Notable cases
Awards and associations
- Chairman of the Board for the Trinity Repertory Company
- Vice-Chair for Crossroads Rhode Island
- Chair of the Providence Tourism Council [2]
See also
External links
- The Providence Journal "U.S. court nominee John J. McConnell a top campaign donor", April 26, 2010
- projo.com, "Chambers ups ante agsinst McConnell appointment", June 17, 2010
- Boston.com "http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2011/06/27/investiture_ceremony_for_mcconnell_to_be_held/" 7/27/2011
References
- ↑ White House Press Release "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate", March 10, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 White House Press Release "President Obama Nominates Judge Catherine Eagles, Judge Kimberly Mueller and John J. McConnell, Jr. to the United States District Court", March 10, 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Providence Journal "Providence lawyer McConnell tapped for U.S. court seat", March 11, 2010
- ↑ Providence Journal "A mixed review for R.I. nominee", March 12, 2010
- ↑ LegalNewsline "ABA says McConnell qualified for federal judgeship", April 2, 2010
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Providence Journal "Nominee to federal bench in R.I. gains ground at hearing", May 14, 2010
- ↑ Townhall.com:Lisa Rickard "McConnell is Unqualified to Sit on the Federal Bench in Rhode Island", May 26, 2010
- ↑ The Providence Journal "R.I. judicial nominee haunted by business accusations of prejudice", May 13, 2010
- ↑ Associated Press "Business Groups Oppose Ri Judicial Nominee", May 11, 2010
- ↑ The Providence Journal "Business groups oppose Rhode Islander’s nomination to federal judgeship", May 12, 2010
- ↑ United States Senate, Committee on the Judiciary, Judicial Nomination Materials: 111th Congress
- ↑ The Providence Journal, "R.I. attorney John McConnell renominated to federal judgeship," September 13, 2010
- ↑ The White House, Press Release: "Presidential Nominations Sent to Senate," September 13, 2010
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, September 23, 2010
- ↑ Providence Journal:7 to 7 "Senate panel recommends McConnell again", September 23, 2010
- ↑ The Associated Press, "RI lawyer confirmed as US judge; GOP block fails", May 4, 2011
- ↑ Judge McConnell's biography at the Federal Judicial Center
| Federal judicial offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Ernest Torres |
District of Rhode Island 2011–Present |
Succeeded by: NA |
