Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), made the following statement on the nomination of John J. “Jack” McConnell for a judgeship on the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island:

“The United States Senate Judiciary Committee should reject the nomination of John J. ‘Jack’ McConnell for a judgeship on the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island.

“In addition to earning a lackluster rating from the American Bar Association, Mr. McConnell has defined his plaintiffs’ lawyer career by suing employers based on controversial legal theories. For example, he has spent a large part of the past decade advancing a misguided interpretation of the public nuisance theory in lead paint litigation, which was rejected by four state supreme courts, including the unanimous rejection by the Rhode Island Supreme Court…”

In addition, a multi-industry letter opposing the nomination was sent to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

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