Article II: Conflicts of Interest

While serving as a Chief Judge for the United States District Court of Rhode Island, John James McConnell Jr. had a major conflict of interest that prevented him from being impartial in the matter of State of New York et al. v. Donald J. Trump, et al., No. 1:25–cv–39 (JJM) (PAS) (D.R.I.). There is substantial evidence that Chief Judge John James McConnell Jr. serves on the Board of Directors for the non-profit organization, Crossroads Rhode Island, and previously served as the Chair of the Board from 2011 to 2021. According to Crossroads Rhode Island’s tax filings, Chief Judge John James McConnell Jr. has appeared every year as a director of the organization since he took the Federal bench. According to Crossroads Rhode Island’s tax filings for 2023, its total revenue was $30,664,778, of which $18,616,874 came from an array of government entities including the Government of Rhode Island. In fiscal year 2025, Crossroads Rhode Island has already received $2,897,630.41 in funds from the State government of Rhode Island. The State Government of Rhode Island is a named plaintiff in the lawsuit against President Donald J. Trump and his Administration over which Chief Judge John James McConnell Jr. presided. Chief Judge John James McConnell Jr. stated that All the States rely on federal funds to provide and maintain vital programs and services.... Mem. Op. at 7, State of New York et al. v. Donald J. Trump, et al., No. 1:25–cv–39 (JJM) (PAS) (D.R.I. Jan. 31, 2025) (ECF No. 50). There is a clear conflict of interest given that Chief Judge John James McConnell Jr. presided over and made a decision regarding a case which significantly impacts the funding of an organization in which he serves as a director of and as a fiduciary. The Code of Conduct for United States Judges states under Canon 2A that A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety. This prohibition applies to both professional and personal conduct. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny and accept freely and willingly restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen.. Section 455 of title 28, United States Code, requires that Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.. Moreover, section 455 of title 28, United States Code, requires that judges must disqualify themselves from a proceeding when He knows that he, individually or as a fiduciary, or his spouse or minor child residing in his household, has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding, or any other interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding. Chief Judge John James McConnell Jr. had a significant conflict of interest in presiding over State of New York et al. v. Donald J. Trump, et al., No. 1:25–cv–39 (JJM) (PAS) (D.R.I.) due to his simultaneous role as a director of Crossroads Rhode Island. This conflict of interest made it impossible for him to be impartial in this proceeding. Chief Judge John James McConnell Jr. should have immediately recused himself from presiding over this proceeding, but instead continued to oversee it knowing he was violating the duty of impartiality owed under Federal law. Wherefore, Chief Judge John James McConnell Jr. is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors and should be removed from office.