Judge McConnell from Tenth Circuit to Stanford

From a press release from the Tenth Circuit today, comes this important news:

Circuit Judge Michael W. McConnell, 53, of Salt Lake City, Utah, has submitted his resignation from the bench, effective August 31, 2009. At that time, he will accept a position as Richard and Frances Mallery Professor of Law and Director of the Constitutional Law Center at Stanford Law School in Palo Alto, California.

Many congratulations to Stanford University on recruiting Judge McConnell.  And to Judge McConnell on returning to the academy, where he can pursue the topics that interest him most.

The press release continues:

Judge McConnell commented: “The opportunity to serve on the Tenth Circuit has been a great privilege and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I will especially miss working with my colleagues on the court, whose friendship, collegiality, and commitment to upholding law and justice are a model and an inspiration. But my first love remains in teaching and scholarship.  Especially at this time of grave international and domestic challenges and transformation, I want to contribute more openly to debate, scholarly analysis, and public understanding of the governing principles of the American Republic.”

Also from the press release, my former dean (and now Chief Judge of the Tenth Circuit) Robert Henry said 

Judge Michael McConnell is a fine friend and distinguished colleague. Our Circuit and the federal judiciary are losing a remarkable jurist. We will miss his scholarship, intellect, concern for fairness and justice, and collegial nature. I am certain his important judicial contributions to our nation’s jurisprudence, made while on this court, will continue to be made, a bit differently perhaps, in his prestigious position at Stanford.

Will be most interesting to see if President Obama nominates another academic for Judge McConnell's position.