John J. McConnell Jr.

The House Judiciary Committee’s interim staff report dated September 30, 2026, How Radical Environmental Special Interests Manipulate the Federal Judiciary, lists “Hon. Jack McConnell, U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island” under “List of Judges Associated with CJP Judicial Education Seminars,” for the Climate Judiciary Project’s “Toward a Climate Science Curriculum: Pilot Program Launch,” New York, NY, June 28, 2019 (report, p. 55 / PDF p. 56). That is his only mention in the report, which sources the entry to a CJP New York City participant list on file with the Committee (report, p. 55 n. 293). A staff report is not an ethics finding, and the report does not tie the 2019 seminar to any case he decided (report).

In State of New York et al. v. Donald J. Trump et al., No. 1:25-cv-00039-JJM-PAS (D.R.I.), on January 31, 2025, Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. signed a temporary restraining order (ECF 50). During the TRO, defendants “shall not pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate Defendants’ compliance with awards and obligations to provide federal financial assistance to the States” except “on the basis of the applicable authorizing statutes, regulations, and terms.” Defendants were also restrained from reissuing or giving effect to the OMB Directive under another name. “IT IS SO ORDERED.” Signed John J. McConnell, Jr., Chief Judge. A TRO is interlocutory. It is not a Supreme Court holding and not a criminal finding.

District TRO against a categorical pause of federal financial assistance tied to OMB Memorandum M-25-13 and related implementation. Temporary by design until the PI hearing. Not a final judgment. Not H.Res. 241.

On February 10, 2025, Chief Judge McConnell granted the plaintiff states’ motion to enforce the January 31 TRO (ECF 66). The signed order (ECF 96) states the motion is GRANTED and orders that defendants “must immediately restore frozen funding during the pendency of the TRO,” “must immediately end any federal funding pause,” and “must immediately take every step necessary to effectuate the TRO,” including restoration of withheld funds “including those federal funds appropriated in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Improvement and Jobs Act.” The order states the broad categorical freeze is “likely unconstitutional.” On February 12, ECF 107 reaffirmed the TRO and denied an emergency defense motion about FEMA withholdings. A compliance order is not a criminal contempt conviction.

On March 6, 2025, Chief Judge McConnell entered a memorandum and order (ECF 161) granting a preliminary injunction. Agency defendants are enjoined from reissuing or giving effect to the directives in OMB Memorandum M-25-13 with respect to disbursement of appropriated federal funds to the States under awarded grants, executed contracts, or other executed financial obligations, and from categorical pauses or freezes based on that directive or materially similar orders. The Court DENIED the defendants’ request to stay the order pending appeal to the First Circuit. The TRO expired upon the PI’s issuance. On March 26, 2025, the First Circuit denied the government’s motion for a stay pending appeal in No. 25-1236. A preliminary injunction is not a final judgment. A circuit stay denial is not a Supreme Court affirmance.

In Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island et al. v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services et al., No. 1:26-cv-00132-JJM-PAS (D.R.I.), on June 5, 2026, Chief Judge McConnell’s memorandum and order (ECF 28) granted in part plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment and vacated four USCIS policies: the Benefits Hold Policy, the Global Asylum Hold Policy, the Comprehensive Re-Review Policy, and the Country-Specific Factors Policy. On June 11, 2026, he entered a Rule 54(b) partial final judgment (ECF 36) on Counts I and II, repeating that those Challenged Policies “are vacated and set aside pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 706(2).” On August 14, 2026, the First Circuit in No. 26-1703 granted a stay pending appeal only as to the Comprehensive Re-Review Policy vacatur and otherwise denied the stay. A partial stay is not a full reversal. Steube’s later impeachment announcement is Claims, not a finding.

On May 4, 2011, the Senate confirmed John J. McConnell, Jr., of Rhode Island, to be United States District Judge for the District of Rhode Island. Roll Call Vote 66, 112th Congress, 1st Session: Yeas 50, Nays 44 (PN32). FJC records commission May 6, 2011, and service as chief judge from 2019–present. FJC career line: born 1958, Providence, R.I.; Brown University A.B. 1980; Case Western Reserve University School of Law J.D. 1983; law clerk to Hon. Donald F. Shea, Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 1983–1984; private practice, Providence, 1984–2011; nominated by President Obama January 5, 2011 (seat vacated by Ernest C. Torres); earlier nominations March 10 and September 13, 2010, received no Senate vote. The District of Rhode Island chambers page identifies him as Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. A 50–44 confirmation is a roll call. It is not a finding about later orders.