U.S. District Court in Rhode Island gets a new chief judge

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The U.S. District Court in Rhode Island has a new chief judge.

Chief Judge John McConnell took over the position this week. McConnell succeeds Judge William Smith, who served as chief judge since Dec. 1, 2013. Smith will remain in active service on the court.

McConnell was nominated to the federal district court by President Barack Obama in January 2011 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The chief judge is the most senior active district judge who is younger than 65 years old and who has not previously served as chief judge. The term is for seven years.

In addition to McConnell and Smith, the court includes Judge Mary McElroy and Magistrate Judges Lincoln Almond and Patricia Sullivan.