Alliance for Justice Hails Senate Judiciary Committee Approval of John J. McConnell, Jr., as U.S. District Judge and Urges Quick Senate Vote

Washington, D.C., June 17, 2010—The Alliance for Justice today hailed the approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee of John J. McConnell, Jr., for a seat on the United State District Court for the District of Rhode Island. The vote of 13-6, with only Republicans opposing, sends the nomination to the full Senate for final approval.

The McConnell nomination is actively opposed by business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, because of his work on behalf of the victims of corporate malfeasance, particularly in a case where he served as lead attorney representing the State of Rhode Island in a public nuisance lawsuit against lead-paint manufacturers. The case, Rhode Island v. Lead Industries Association, which sought to protect children from the toxic effects of lead-paint poisoning, was ultimately decided in favor of the manufacturers by the Supreme Court of Rhode Island.

Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron expressed satisfaction with the committee vote, saying "We believe John McConnell is well-qualified for a seat on the federal bench and will be a fine judge. The fact that McConnell was strongly opposed by business groups hostile to consumer protections and the rights of ordinary Americans is all the more reason to call for his swift confirmation by the Senate. Our courts have become bastions of corporate influence and we need to restore balance in the judiciary by appointing judges who treat all those who come before them fairly and impartially without automatically favoring the interests of the powerful."

Aron also urged the Senate to vote quickly on this nomination and all other pending judicial nominations, saying, "John McConnell now joins 25 other nominees who have been cleared by the committee and are waiting for final votes, and another 18 whose nominations have been sent to the Senate by the president, but still have not received a committee vote. This untenable backlog, which is the product of partisan political posturing, is doing a great disservice to our judicial system and the American people, who deserve to have federal courts that are fully staffed and functioning efficiently."

For a copy of a report by the Alliance for Justice detailing the issues in the Rhode Island v. Lead Industries Association case, visit http://www.afj.org/about-afj/press/memo-john-mcconnell.pdf. For information on the pace and status of judicial nominations, go to http://www.afj.org/check-the-facts/nominees/judicial-selection-snapshot.html.