He was an assistant police prosecutor for the City of Cleveland from 1922 to 1923 and was an assistant county prosecutor of Cuyahoga County, Ohio from 1923 to 1928.

He was a judge to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 1941 to 1954.

[1] President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated Connell to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on June 24, 1954, to a new seat created by 68 Stat. 8.

Confirmed by the Senate on August 10, 1954, and received his commission the same day.

He served as Chief Judge from 1960 to 1967 and assumed senior status on September 21, 1971.