James Connell

James Connell is an American human rights attorney best known for his work in death penalty cases. He was one of the federal habeas attorneys for John Allen Mohammad, who was executed in 2009 for the D.C. sniper attacks. Connell is currently lead counsel for Ammar al-Baluchi in the United States Military Commissions at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Early life and education Connell grew up in Valdosta, Georgia, and attended Valdosta High School. He attended college at Florida State University and law school at William & Mary Law School. Career After working in state and federal defender offices, Connell practiced law in Fairfax, Virginia. With several partners, Connell primarily handled cases in which Virginia or other jurisdictions sought the death penalty. In the late 2000s, Connell handled the federal habeas corpus case of John Allen Mohammad. Connell represented Mohammad until his execution in 2009.