“It was beyond chilling,” said Hon. John J. “Jack” McConnell Jr., Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island, on The Rhode Island Report podcast. “I don’t think I have ever felt so unnerved in my life.” Judge McConnell discussed his commitment to following the rule of law despite unprecedented cases and threats against him.
To read the Boston Globe article (Jan. 22, 2026), please click here.
The Rhode Island Report podcast is produced by The Boston Globe Rhode Island with support from Salve Regina University. To listen to the episode featuring Judge McConnell, search for The Rhode Island Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. It is dated Jan. 22, 2026 (21 minutes).