John J. McConnell, Jr.

U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island Appointed by Barack Obama (Democratic) 24 signed orders read

How Judge McConnell decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

In a TRO-enforcement dispute, the judge read a prior injunction's language literally against the government and rejected an agency's narrower interpretation of its own compliance obligations, ordering immediate restoration of the paused funds.

“The plain language of the TRO entered in this case prohibits all categorical pauses or freezes in obligations or disbursements based on the OMB Directive or based on the President’s 2025 Executive Orders.”

Cautions

In an employment-discipline suit, the judge required specific comparator evidence to sustain a selective-treatment claim; general assertions that other employees avoided discipline, without matching facts, were not enough to survive summary judgment.

“Mr. Verdecchia has not proffered sufficient evidence that the identified employees engaged in conduct of comparable seriousness...or had a similarly poor disciplinary record.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

State of New York, et al. v. Trump, et al.
1:25-cv-00039-JJM-PAS · 2025-02-10
Motion for enforcement (plaintiff) Granted

“The Plaintiff States’ Motion for Enforcement of the Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) (ECF No. 66) is GRANTED.”

Gomes v. Brown University
1:23-cv-219-JJM-PAS · 2023-11-27
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Denied

“As a result, Brown’s Motion to Dismiss as it pertains to Mr. Gomes’ FEPA accommodation claim is denied. ... Brown’s Motion to Dismiss as it pertains to Mr. Gomes’ FEPA retaliation claim is denied. ... Brown’s Motion to Dismiss as it pertains to Mr. Gomes’ RICRA claim is denied. ... the Court DENIES Brown’s Motion to Dismiss. ECF No. 5.”

Jones v. Colvin
14-030-M · 2015-02-18
Social security review (plaintiff) Granted

“The Plaintiff’s Motion to Reverse the Decision of the Commissioner is GRANTED and the Defendant’s Motion to Affirm the Decision of the Commissioner is DENIED.”

Social security review (defendant) Denied

“the Defendant’s Motion to Affirm the Decision of the Commissioner is DENIED.”

Verdecchia v. DeCesare
1:21-cv-269-JJM-AEM · 2025-08-27
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“For all these reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment. ECF No. 70.”

United States and State of Rhode Island ex rel. Murphy v. Rhode Island Medical Imaging, Inc.
1:18-cv-564-JJM-LDA · 2024-11-22
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted in part

“The Court GRANTS RIMI’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. ECF No. 87. Counts I, II, and III are DISMISSED. The Court DENIES Dr. Murphy’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to Count IV (ECF No. 85) and GRANTS RIMI’s Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to Count VI (ECF No. 92-1 at 3). Remaining for trial is Dr. Murphy’s claims for breach of contract (Counts IV and V) in light of the way the Court interpreted that contract set forth here.”

Morowitz v. United States Government
1:17-CV-00291 · 2019-03-07
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“Mr. Morowtiz cannot establish that he is entitled to the disallowed deductions on his Schedule C where there is no clear evidence that he operated a law practice separate from the corporation. Accordingly, this Court GRANTS the Government's motion for summary judgment. ECF. No.7.”

Harney v. Homesite Insurance Company
17-459-JJM-PAS · 2019-07-08
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“Because the Court finds that Ms. Harney did not reside at the Bradford Property, it was not an insured location under the policy and therefore Homesite properly denied coverage for the fire loss. The Court GRANTS Defendant Homesite Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment. ECF No. 34.”

Soenen v. Brown University
1:23-cv-00046-JJM-PAS · 2025-10-21
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“The Court finds that summary judgment for Brown is appropriate on all remaining counts (Counts I, II, III, IX, XI). The Court GRANTS Brown’s Motion for Summary Judgment. ECF No. 78.”

CVS Pharmacy, Inc. v. Lavin
19-204-JJM-PAS · 2019-06-18
Preliminary injunction (plaintiff) Granted

“The Court GRANTS CVS's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction. ECF No. 27.”

State of Rhode Island, et al. v. Trump, et al.
1:25-cv-128-JJM-AEM · 2025-11-21
Summary judgment (plaintiff) Granted

“For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS the States’ Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 75) and DENIES Defendants’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 84).”

Li v. Su
C.A. No. 24-200-JJM-PAS · 2025-07-07
Judgment on the pleadings (defendant) Granted

“Because Mr. Li fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c), this Court GRANTS Ms. Su’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. ECF No. 60. This case is dismissed.”

Rodger, et al. v. Elmhurst Operator LLC, et al.
C.A. No. 24-61-JJM-PAS · 2025-03-20
Judgment on the pleadings (defendant) Denied

“The Plaintiffs are correct that the motion is not ripe and premature because the issue of whether there is insurance coverage is not resolved. The Court Denies Defendants Estate of Yonah Kohn’s Motion for Judgement on the Pleadings. ECF No. 42.”

Put Judge McConnell's record to work

Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge McConnell actually rules, not a generic AI guess.

Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge McConnell's own signed orders and cites them.