Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Ojetta Rogeriee Thompson and Providence lawyer John F. `Jack' McConnell have been recommended by Rhode Island U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse for positions on the federal bench.
Thompson, 58, has served on the state superior court since 1997, when she became the first black female to win appointment to the superior court. Thompson is being recommended for the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in Boston and hears appeals from federal courts in Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Puerto Rico.
McConnell, 50, one of the state's leading trail lawyers, is being recommended for the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island, which is the state's top federal trial court. The court has juris diction to hear almost all categories of federeal cases, including both criminal and civil matters.
``We worked hard on this process for many months and had many talentd and skilled Rhode Islanders express an interest in serving thir country on the federal bench,'' Reed and Whitehouse said in a joint statement released today. ``We believe that Justice Thompson and Mr. McConnell are highly qualified and will make Rhode Island proud. They both posess strong legal backghrounds, a committment to justice, and the intellect, tempermant, and integrity to serve as federal judges. They both come from working, middle-class families and share a profiound respect for the law.''
Both McConnell and Thompson are graduates of Brown University. McConnell received his law degree at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and Thompson earned a law degree at Boston University.
The court of apeals judgeship pays $175,100 annually and the district court position pays $165,200 annually.
By tradition, the senior U.S. senator of the president's party _ in this case Reed _ recommends federal judges. The nominees go to the president, who has the ultimate decision whether to send the recommendations to the U.S. Senate. All federal judges require Senate confirmation.
``We look forward to working with the president and our colleagues in the Senate to see these nominations through the confirmation process,'' said Reed and Whitehouse.
Among the other Rhode Island lawyers interested in the federal judgeships were former lieutenant governor Richard Licht, former Rhode Island House Judiciary Chairman Jeffrey Teitz and Providence lawyer Lynette Labinger.
Thompson is married to Rhode Island District Court Judge William Clifton. She has served as a Brown trustee. Raised in segregated South Carolina, Thompson came to Rhode Island to attend Brown. She has also served on the university's 10-member commission to Commerate the History of Slavery in Rhode Island.'
Before being appointed by then-Gov Lincoln Almond to the superior court in 1997, Thompson served as a Rhode Island District Court judge for nine years. Thompson was awarded honorary degrees from the University of Rhode Island and Bryant College.
McConnell is one of New England's better-known plaintiff lawyers. He was counsel to the 25 state attorneys general who sued the tobacco industry. McConnell was also the lead trial counsel for the state's lawsuit against the lead paint industry.
McConnell boasts a long list of civic and political involvement. He is chairman of the board of Trinity Repertory Theatre, chairman of the Providence Tourism Council and vice-chairman of the board of directors of Crossroads Rhode Island.
Among those who sent letters supporting McConnell's bid for the judgeship are a slew of state business, political, labor and religious leaders, including David Whalen, ceo of A.T. Cross; Merrill Sherman, ceo of BankRI; Howard Sutton, publisher of the Providence Journal; George Nee, secretary-treasurer of the state AFL_CIO; tjhe Rev. Ray Malm; Sr. Anne Keefe; and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, a Republican.
McConnell has been treasurer of the Rhode Island State Dmocratic Committee and has been a significant Democratic fund-raiser and donor for many years. He was especially active in Providence Mayor David Cicilline's campaigns, and former Providence State Sen. Myrth York's three unsucessful campaigns for governor.
McConnell has also donated hundress of thousands over the years to Democratic candidates nationally and in Rhode Island. Reed and Whitehouse are among those candidates who have been beneficiaries of McConnell's contributions.
McConnell lives in Providence. He is the husband of the former Sara Shea. The couple have three children, Catherine Shea McConnell, Margaret Shea McConnell and John Shea McConnell.
