Michael W. McConnell

Michael W. McConnell
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Name	Michael W. McConnell
Alma mater	University of Chicago Law School, McGill University, Williams College

Michael W. McConnell is a prominent United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, known for his expertise in Constitutional law, First Amendment issues, and Federalism. He has taught at several prestigious institutions, including University of Chicago Law School, Stanford Law School, and New York University School of Law. McConnell's work has been cited by various courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States, and he has argued cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

● Early Life and Education

Michael W. McConnell was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and later moved to McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He then attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and later earned his law degree from University of Chicago Law School, where he was a Hugo Black scholar and a member of the University of Chicago Law Review. During his time at the University of Chicago Law School, McConnell was influenced by prominent scholars such as Frank Easterbrook, Richard Epstein, and Richard Posner. He also clerked for Judge J. Skelly Wright of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and later for Justice William Brennan of the Supreme Court of the United States.

● Career

Before becoming a judge, McConnell worked as a law clerk for Judge J. Skelly Wright of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and later for Justice William Brennan of the Supreme Court of the United States. He then joined the Department of Justice as an Assistant to the Solicitor General, where he argued cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, including Bob Jones University v. United States and Goldman v. Weinberger. McConnell also taught at several law schools, including University of Chicago Law School, Stanford Law School, and New York University School of Law, where he was a colleague of prominent scholars such as Cass Sunstein, Richard Epstein, and Jeremy Waldron. He has also been a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

● Judicial Service

McConnell was nominated by President George W. Bush to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and confirmed by the United States Senate in 2002. As a judge, he has heard cases involving a wide range of issues, including Constitutional law, First Amendment issues, and Federalism. He has also written opinions in notable cases such as Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Burwell and Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged v. Burwell, which were later reviewed by the Supreme Court of the United States. McConnell has been a strong advocate for judicial restraint and has written extensively on the topic, including in the Harvard Law Review and the Yale Law Journal.

● Notable Cases

Some of the notable cases heard by McConnell include Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Burwell, Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged v. Burwell, and United States v. Stewart. In Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Burwell, McConnell wrote the opinion for the court, holding that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The case was later reviewed by the Supreme Court of the United States, which affirmed the decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.. McConnell has also written opinions in cases involving First Amendment issues, such as United States v. Stewart, where he held that a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent's search of a suspect's computer was unconstitutional.

● Personal Life

McConnell is married to Mary McConnell, and they have two children together. He is a member of the Latter-day Saint church and has written about the intersection of law and religion in the Harvard Law Review and the Yale Law Journal. McConnell has also been involved in various charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. He has received several awards for his service, including the Distinguished Service Award from the National Center for State Courts and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Federalist Society. McConnell has also been a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Law Institute. Category:American judges