Business Groups Split Over Judge

Business Groups Split Over Judge

A local business group today had nothing but nice things to say about U.S. District Court nominee and local attorney John J. “Jack” McConnell—but it stopped short of taking any position on his nomination.

“Mr. McConnell is a well respected member of the local community, leading important civic, charitable and economic development institutions including Crossroads Rhode Island, the Providence Tourism Council and Trinity Repertory Theatre,” the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce said in an unsigned statement.

The statement comes the day after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—which is not formally affiliated with the Providence chamber—opposed the nomination through its Institute of Legal Reform.

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“The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce has never endorsed nor opposed nominees vying for the federal or state judiciary,” the Providence chamber said. “In a similar vein, we have never endorsed nor opposed candidates seeking elective office on the federal, state or municipal levels.”  

In its statement, the chamber also said it had a “very positive” working relationship with senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and respected their right to back “qualified” nominees to the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island.

The president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform, or ILR, Tuesday called on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to turn down the nomination.

Rickard noted that McConnell is known for lead paint litigation, which she said was based on a misguided interpretation of the law on public nuissances.

“His apparent bias against the business community and questionable judicial philosophy raise serious reservations about his fitness to serve a lifetime appointment to the federal bench,” Rickard said. 

“Mr. McConnell’s elevation to the federal judiciary could create a ‘magnet’ jurisdiction that would encourage additional meritless, plaintiffs’ lawyer-driven lawsuits at a time when American employers are working harder than ever to recover from our economic recession,” Rickard added.

Several other national business groups have lined up to oppose the nomination, including the American Insurance Association, American Tort Reform Association, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and Property and Casualty Insurers Association of America.

The groups released a joint letter May 11 urging the Judiciary Committee to reject the nomination.