United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, informally known as the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of 21 U.S. senators (including one vacancy)[1] whose role is to oversee the Department of Justice (DOJ), consider executive and judicial nominations, and review pending legislation.[2][3]
| Standing committee | |
|---|---|
Active United States Senate 118th Congress | |
| History | |
| Formed | December 10, 1816 |
| Leadership | |
| Chair | Dick Durbin (D) Since February 3, 2021 |
| Ranking member | Lindsey Graham (R) Since February 2, 2023 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 21 members |
| Political parties | Majority (11)
|
| Jurisdiction | |
| Policy areas | Federal judiciary, civil procedure, criminal procedure, civil liberties, copyrights, patents, trademarks, naturalization, constitutional amendments, congressional apportionment, state and territorial boundary lines |
| Oversight authority | Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, federal judicial nominations |
| House counterpart | House Committee on the Judiciary |
| Meeting place | |
| 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. | |
 | |
| Website | |
| judiciary.senate.gov | |
| Rules | |
Sonia Sotomayor testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on her nomination for the United States Supreme Court
In addition, the Standing Rules of the Senate confer jurisdiction to the Senate Judiciary Committee in certain areas, such as considering proposed constitutional amendments and legislation related to federal criminal law, human rights law, immigration, intellectual property, antitrust law, and internet privacy.[2][4]
History
Established in 1816 as one of the original standing committees in the United States Senate, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary is one of the oldest and most influential committees in Congress. Its broad legislative jurisdiction has assured its primary role as a forum for the public discussion of social and constitutional issues. The committee is also responsible for oversight of key activities of the executive branch, and is responsible for the initial stages of the confirmation process of all judicial nominations for the federal judiciary.[5]
Nominations
The committee considers presidential nominations for positions in the DOJ, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the State Justice Institute, and certain positions in the Department of Commerce and DHS. It is also in charge of holding hearings and investigating judicial nominations to the Supreme Court, the U.S. court of appeals, the U.S. district courts, and the Court of International Trade.[2]
If a majority on the committee votes to advance a nomination, the nominee is reported favorably to the whole Senate, which can vote by simple majority to confirm the nominee.[6]
Oversight
The Judiciary Committee's oversight of the DOJ includes all of the agencies under the DOJ's jurisdiction, such as the FBI. It also has oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Members, 118th Congress (January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025)
| Majority[7] | Minority[8] |
|---|---|
|
|
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Dick Durbin, Democratic senator from Illinois, is the current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Chairs since 1816
Historical committee rosters
117th Congress (January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023)
| Majority[12] | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking Member |
|---|---|---|
| Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | Mike Lee (R-UT) |
| The Constitution | Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) | Ted Cruz (R-TX) |
| Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism | Cory Booker (D-NJ) | Tom Cotton (R-AR) |
| Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | John Kennedy (R-LA) |
| Human Rights and the Law | Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) | Josh Hawley (R-MO) |
| Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety | Alex Padilla (D-CA) | John Cornyn (R-TX) |
| Intellectual Property | Patrick Leahy (D-VT) | Thom Tillis (R-NC) |
| Privacy, Technology and the Law | Chris Coons (D-DE) | Ben Sasse (R-NE) |
116th Congress (January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021)
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking member |
|---|---|---|
| Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights | Mike Lee (R-UT) | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) |
| Border Security and Immigration | John Cornyn (R-TX) | Dick Durbin (D-IL) |
| The Constitution | Ted Cruz (R-TX) | Mazie Hirono (D-HI) |
| Crime and Terrorism | Josh Hawley (R-MO) | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) |
| Intellectual Property | Thom Tillis (R-NC) | Chris Coons (D-DE) |
| Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts | Ben Sasse (R-NE) | Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) |
115th Congress (January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019)
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
In January 2018, the Democratic minority had their number of seats increase from 9 to 10 upon the election of Doug Jones (D-AL), changing the 52–48 Republican majority to 51–49. On January 2, 2018, Al Franken, who had been a member of the committee, resigned from the Senate following accusations of sexual misconduct.
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking member |
|---|---|---|
| Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights | Mike Lee (R-UT) | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) |
| Border Security and Immigration | John Cornyn (R-TX) | Dick Durbin (D-IL) |
| Crime and Terrorism | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) |
| Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts | Ben Sasse (R-NE) | Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (from January 9, 2018) Chris Coons (D-DE) (until January 9, 2018) |
| Privacy, Technology and the Law | Jeff Flake (R-AZ) | Chris Coons (D-DE) (from January 9, 2018) Al Franken (D-MN) (until January 2, 2018) |
| The Constitution | Ted Cruz (R-TX) | Mazie Hirono (D-HI) (from January 9, 2018) Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (until January 9, 2018) |
114th Congress (January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017)
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chairman | Ranking member |
|---|---|---|
| Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights | Mike Lee (R-UT) | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) |
| Crime and Terrorism | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) |
| Immigration and the National Interest | Jeff Sessions (R-AL) | Chuck Schumer (D-NY) |
| Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts | Ted Cruz (R-TX) | Chris Coons (D-DE) |
| Privacy, Technology and the Law | Jeff Flake (R-AZ) | Al Franken (D-MN) |
| The Constitution | John Cornyn (R-TX) | Dick Durbin (D-IL) |
113th Congress (January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015)
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chairman | Ranking member |
|---|---|---|
| Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | Mike Lee (R-UT) |
| Bankruptcy and the Courts | Chris Coons (D-DE) | Jeff Sessions (R-AL) |
| Crime and Terrorism | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) |
| Immigration, Refugees and Border Security | Chuck Schumer (D-NY) | John Cornyn (R-TX) |
| Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Action | Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) | Orrin Hatch (R-UT) |
| Privacy, Technology and the Law | Al Franken (D-MN) | Jeff Flake (R-AZ) |
| The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights | Dick Durbin (D-IL) | Ted Cruz (R-TX) |
112th Congress (January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013)
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chairman | Ranking member |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Oversight and the Courts | Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) | Jeff Sessions (R-AL) |
| United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights | Herb Kohl (D-WI) | Mike Lee (R-UT) |
| Crime and Terrorism | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | Jon Kyl (R-AZ) |
| Immigration, Refugees and Border Security | Chuck Schumer (D-NY) | John Cornyn (R-TX) |
| Privacy, Technology and the Law | Al Franken (D-MN) | Tom Coburn (R-OK) |
| The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights | Dick Durbin (D-IL) | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) |
111th Congress (January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011)
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chairman | Ranking member |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Oversight and the Courts | Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) | Jeff Sessions (R-AL) |
| Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights | Herb Kohl (D-WI) | Orrin Hatch (R-UT) |
| Crime and Drugs | Arlen Specter (D-PA) | Lindsey Graham (R-SC) |
| Human Rights and the Law | Dick Durbin (D-IL) | Tom Coburn (R-OK) |
| Immigration, Refugees and Border Security | Chuck Schumer (D-NY) | John Cornyn (R-TX) |
| Terrorism and Homeland Security | Ben Cardin (D-MD) | Jon Kyl (R-AZ) |
| The Constitution | Russ Feingold (D-WI) | Tom Coburn (R-OK) |
See also
References
- U.S. Senate: Committee on the Judiciary -- Committee Membership List
- "Jurisdiction". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- "Senate Committee on the Judiciary". GovTrack. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- "Guide to Senate Records: Chapter 13 Judiciary 1947-1968". National Archives. August 15, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- "History | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- "How Republicans Can Block Stephen Breyer's Replacement". Time. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
- S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)
- "Majority Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Democratic Committee Assignments". Senate Democrats. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- When the Senate convened in January 2001 17 days before President George W. Bush was inaugurated, there was a 50–50 split between Democrats and Republicans with Vice President Al Gore as a tiebreaking vote.
- In June 2001, Republican Jim Jeffords declared himself an Independent and caucused with the Democrats, giving the Democrats majority control.
- "Members | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- "Members | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- John J. Merlino (June 28, 2018). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Julie E. Adams, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- John J. Merlino (April 4, 2017). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Julie E. Adams, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- John J. Merlino (May 13, 2015). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Julie E. Adams, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- Kathleen Alvarez Tritak (April 10, 2014). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- Kathleen Alvarez Tritak (April 8, 2011). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Twelfth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- Kathleen Alvarez Tritak (2010). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Eleventh Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 22–23. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- Kathleen Alvarez Tritak (October 1, 2010). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Eleventh Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 22–23. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
- United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Official Website (Archive)
- Senate Judiciary Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.
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