A federal judge who has repeatedly ruled against President Donald Trump is now facing increased scrutiny over his impartiality as he presides over another major legal battle involving the president.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell, appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2010, is currently hearing a case brought by 20 Democratic state attorneys general.
The lawsuit challenges Trump’s directive to withhold federal transportation funds from jurisdictions labeled as “sanctuary” areas that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
Before ascending to the federal bench, McConnell was a prolific donor to Democratic campaigns and organizations.
According to data from Open Secrets and CQ Roll Call, he gave close to $500,000 to Democratic causes, as reported by Conservative Brief.
Notable contributions include $28,500 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and tens of thousands more to Democratic candidates and state parties nationwide.
He was confirmed as a federal judge in 2011 after a narrow Senate vote of 50–44.
McConnell’s family has also played an active role in Democratic politics.
His wife, Sara Shea McConnell, has contributed over $250,000 to Democratic committees and candidates, including the Democratic National Committee and the Rhode Island Democratic Party.
Their daughter, Catherine McConnell, held senior policy positions in the Biden administration’s Department of Education and worked under former Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, who previously served as Biden’s Commerce Secretary.
Catherine’s political donations have continued as recently as 2021.
Since Trump took office, McConnell has consistently ruled against the administration’s policies.
Early on, he dismissed a lawsuit aimed at removing Trump from Rhode Island’s 2024 presidential ballot. Yet in other cases, McConnell blocked key Trump efforts.
In State of Rhode Island v. Trump, he stopped the administration from cutting funds to federal agencies created by Congress, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Minority Business Development Agency.
He also issued an injunction in State of New York v. Trump, halting the freeze on federal spending that affected 22 states and the District of Columbia.
These rulings and McConnell’s political donations have sparked criticism from Republicans, according to CB.
In March, Rep. Andy Clyde (R-GA) introduced a resolution to impeach the judge, alleging a “conflict of interest.”
The resolution points to McConnell’s role as a board member and fiduciary for Crossroads Rhode Island, a nonprofit that receives state funding.
Clyde argues that McConnell’s involvement with the organization creates a conflict, especially since McConnell presided over cases potentially affecting its finances.
In May, the conservative legal group America First Legal submitted a judicial ethics complaint questioning Judge McConnell’s involvement with Crossroads Rhode Island, referencing tax filings that list him in a leadership role.
Judge McConnell declined to comment on the impeachment resolution or the misconduct complaint.
The court has remained silent about the controversy.
Judge McConnell declined to address the accusations or the impeachment effort, with court spokesperson Frank Perry simply stating that McConnell remains focused on maintaining judicial integrity and would not be commenting publicly while handling ongoing matters involving the Trump administration.
Some legal professionals have stepped in to defend McConnell’s reputation.
Rhode Island Bar Association President Christopher Gontarz described him as a highly regarded member of the judiciary and criticized what he called personal attacks and exaggerated rhetoric.
Currently, Judge McConnell is handling a new legal battle involving the Trump administration’s policy toward sanctuary jurisdictions.
The case, brought by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and joined by 19 other Democratic attorneys general, seeks to block federal transportation funding cuts in states that do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Given Judge McConnell’s prior rulings against the Trump administration—most notably blocking funding cuts and halting a federal spending freeze—the outcome of this latest case is expected to attract close scrutiny.
As debates continue over his impartiality and prior affiliations, the judge’s role in shaping policy through the courtroom remains a focal point.
