Litigation

Federal Nominee in RI Opposed by US Chamber

By Peter Hardin

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has taken what a Rhode Island newspaper called the ?extraordinary step? of publicly urging rejection of a federal district court nominee.

John J. McConnell Jr. (photo at right) is an outspoken Democrat and a veteran plaintiff?s lawyer. The U.S. Chamber, a powerful lobbying force that has worked to sway a number of state judicial elections, said it was the first time it has opposed a federal trial court nominee, according to a Providence Journal article.

The Chamber questioned whether McConnell could be impartial on the bench. With some insurance and other business groups, it also noted that McConnell received a rating less than the best issued by the American Bar Association.

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the nomination. Two Republicans, including Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, indicated that opposition to McConnell by national business groups would not necessarily influence their decision.

McConnell was praised highly by Democratic Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. When Whitehouse was state attorney general, he engaged McConnell?s law firm in helping Rhode Island pursue a lead-paint lawsuit against manufacturers.

The defendants won the final outcome of that long-term legal fight, and the lawsuit is central to business objections to McConnell. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, mentioned ?legitimate questions? raised by the Chamber about abuse of class-action lawsuits, and he also quizzed McConnell about the nominee?s pointed remarks about litigation against the makers of lead paint.

Full post as published by The Gavel on May 15, 2010 (boomark / email).