John McConnell approved by Senate Judiciary for federal bench

March 31, 2011

Washington D.C.: The Senate Judiciary Committee voted today to approve the nomination of John McConnell to the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. The vote passed at 11-7 on party lines with Senator Charles Grassley making a long statement against McConnell's qualifications. The committee has approved McConnell twice before in 2010, but his appointment was blocked both times by votes in the Senate. Chairman Patrick Leahy commented on the situation saying, "I have every confidence that Majority Leader Reid will bring the nomination before the Senate this year and if some insist on filibustering the nomination, I expect there will be a cloture petition to bring the matter to a vote."