James Connell worked for two decades in both private practice and as a city and county prosecutor before being named to the Common Pleas Bench in 1941 by Governor John Bricker. After being re-elected three times without opposition, in 1954 he was appointed by President Eisenhower to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, serving as Chief Judge from 1960-1967. He remained on the court until his death. Connell was named Cleveland-Marshall Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 1966. He also served on the school’s Board of Trustees and Alumni Association. Several students have been recipients of the James C. Connell Award for Outstanding Student in Criminal Law.