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[1] whose role is to oversee the Department of Justice (DOJ), consider executive and judicial nominations, and review pending legislation.[2][3]

Senate Judiciary Committee
Standing committee
Active

United States Senate
118th Congress
History
FormedDecember 10, 1816
Leadership
ChairDick Durbin (D)
Since February 3, 2021
Ranking memberLindsey Graham (R)
Since January 3, 2023
Structure
Seats21 members
Political partiesMajority (11)
  •   Democratic (11)
Minority (10)
Jurisdiction
Policy areasFederal judiciary, civil procedure, criminal procedure, civil liberties, copyrights, patents, trademarks, naturalization, constitutional amendments, congressional apportionment, state and territorial boundary lines
Oversight authorityDepartment of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, federal judicial nominations
House counterpartHouse 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

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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

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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

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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

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(January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025)
Majority[7]Minority[8]
Dick Durbin, Democratic senator from Illinois, is the current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Subcommittees

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SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer RightsAmy Klobuchar (D-MN)Mike Lee (R-UT)
The ConstitutionDianne Feinstein (D-CA) (until September 29, 2023)
Laphonza Butler (D-CA) (from October 17, 2023)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Criminal Justice and CounterterrorismCory Booker (D-NJ)Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal RightsSheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)John Kennedy (R-LA)
Human Rights and the LawJon Ossoff (D-GA)Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Immigration, Citizenship and Border SafetyAlex Padilla (D-CA)John Cornyn (R-TX)
Intellectual PropertyChris Coons (D-DE)Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Privacy, Technology and the LawRichard Blumenthal (D-CT)Josh Hawley (R-MO)

Chairs since 1816

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ChairPartyStateYears
Dudley ChaseDemocratic-RepublicanVermont1816–1817
John J. CrittendenDemocratic-RepublicanKentucky1817–1818
James Burrill Jr.FederalistRhode Island1818–1819
William SmithDemocratic-RepublicanSouth Carolina1819–1823
Martin Van BurenDemocratic-RepublicanNew York1823–1828
John M. BerrienJacksonianGeorgia1828–1829
John RowanDemocratic-RepublicanKentucky1829–1831
William L. MarcyJacksonianNew York1831–1832
William WilkinsJacksonianPennsylvania1832–1833
John M. ClaytonAnti-JacksonianDelaware1833–1836
Felix GrundyJacksonianTennessee1836–1838
Garret D. WallDemocraticNew Jersey1838–1841
John M. BerrienWhigGeorgia1841–1845
Chester AshleyDemocraticArkansas1845–1847
Andrew P. ButlerDemocraticSouth Carolina1847–1857
James A. Bayard Jr.DemocraticDelaware1857–1861
Lyman TrumbullRepublicanIllinois1861–1872
George G. WrightRepublicanIowa1872
George F. EdmundsRepublicanVermont1872–1879
Allen G. ThurmanDemocraticOhio1879–1881
George F. EdmundsRepublicanVermont1881–1891
George Frisbie HoarRepublicanMassachusetts1891–1893
James L. PughDemocraticAlabama1893–1895
George Frisbie HoarRepublicanMassachusetts1895–1904
Orville H. PlattRepublicanConnecticut1904–1905
Clarence D. ClarkRepublicanWyoming1905–1912
Charles Allen CulbersonDemocraticTexas1912–1919
Knute NelsonRepublicanMinnesota1919–1923
Frank B. BrandegeeRepublicanConnecticut1923–1924
Albert B. CumminsRepublicanIowa1924–1926
George William NorrisRepublicanNebraska1926–1933
Henry F. AshurstDemocraticArizona1933–1941
Frederick Van NuysDemocraticIndiana1941–1945
Pat McCarranDemocraticNevada1945–1947
Alexander WileyRepublicanWisconsin1947–1949
Pat McCarranDemocraticNevada1949–1953
William LangerRepublicanNorth Dakota1953–1955
Harley M. KilgoreDemocraticWest Virginia1955–1956
James EastlandDemocraticMississippi1956–1978
Edward M. KennedyDemocraticMassachusetts1978–1981
Strom ThurmondRepublicanSouth Carolina1981–1987
Joe BidenDemocraticDelaware1987–1995
Orrin HatchRepublicanUtah1995–2001
Patrick Leahy[10]DemocraticVermont2001
Orrin HatchRepublicanUtah2001
Patrick Leahy[11]DemocraticVermont2001–2003
Orrin HatchRepublicanUtah2003–2005
Arlen SpecterRepublicanPennsylvania2005–2007
Patrick LeahyDemocraticVermont2007–2015
Chuck GrassleyRepublicanIowa2015–2019
Lindsey GrahamRepublicanSouth Carolina2019–2021
Dick DurbinDemocraticIllinois2021–present

Historical committee rosters

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117th Congress

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(January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023)
Majority[12]Minority

Subcommittees

SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer RightsAmy Klobuchar (D-MN)Mike Lee (R-UT)
The ConstitutionRichard Blumenthal (D-CT)Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Criminal Justice and CounterterrorismCory Booker (D-NJ)Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal RightsSheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)John Kennedy (R-LA)
Human Rights and the LawDianne Feinstein (D-CA)Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Immigration, Citizenship and Border SafetyAlex Padilla (D-CA)John Cornyn (R-TX)
Intellectual PropertyPatrick Leahy (D-VT)Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Privacy, Technology and the LawChris Coons (D-DE)Ben Sasse (R-NE)

116th Congress

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(January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021)
MajorityMinority
Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking member
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer RightsMike Lee (R-UT)Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Border Security and ImmigrationJohn Cornyn (R-TX)Dick Durbin (D-IL)
The ConstitutionTed Cruz (R-TX)Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Crime and TerrorismJosh Hawley (R-MO)Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Intellectual PropertyThom Tillis (R-NC)Chris Coons (D-DE)
Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal CourtsBen Sasse (R-NE)Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

115th Congress

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(January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019)

[14][15]

MajorityMinority

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
SubcommitteeChairRanking member
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer RightsMike Lee (R-UT)Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Border Security and ImmigrationJohn Cornyn (R-TX)Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Crime and TerrorismLindsey Graham (R-SC)Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal CourtsBen Sasse (R-NE)Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (from January 9, 2018)
Chris Coons (D-DE) (until January 9, 2018)
Privacy, Technology and the LawJeff Flake (R-AZ)Chris Coons (D-DE) (from January 9, 2018)
Al Franken (D-MN) (until January 2, 2018)
The ConstitutionTed Cruz (R-TX)Mazie Hirono (D-HI) (from January 9, 2018)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (until January 9, 2018)

114th Congress

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(January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017)

[16]

MajorityMinority
Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairmanRanking member
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer RightsMike Lee (R-UT)Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Crime and TerrorismLindsey Graham (R-SC)Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Immigration and the National InterestJeff Sessions (R-AL)Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal CourtsTed Cruz (R-TX)Chris Coons (D-DE)
Privacy, Technology and the LawJeff Flake (R-AZ)Al Franken (D-MN)
The ConstitutionJohn Cornyn (R-TX)Dick Durbin (D-IL)

113th Congress

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(January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015)

[17]

MajorityMinority
Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairmanRanking member
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer RightsAmy Klobuchar (D-MN)Mike Lee (R-UT)
Bankruptcy and the CourtsChris Coons (D-DE)Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Crime and TerrorismSheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Immigration, Refugees and Border SecurityChuck Schumer (D-NY)John Cornyn (R-TX)
Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency ActionRichard Blumenthal (D-CT)Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Privacy, Technology and the LawAl Franken (D-MN)Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human RightsDick Durbin (D-IL)Ted Cruz (R-TX)

112th Congress

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(January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013)

[18]

MajorityMinority
Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairmanRanking member
Administrative Oversight and the CourtsAmy Klobuchar (D-MN)Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer RightsHerb Kohl (D-WI)Mike Lee (R-UT)
Crime and TerrorismSheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Immigration, Refugees and Border SecurityChuck Schumer (D-NY)John Cornyn (R-TX)
Privacy, Technology and the LawAl Franken (D-MN)Tom Coburn (R-OK)
The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human RightsDick Durbin (D-IL)Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

111th Congress

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(January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011)

[19][20]

MajorityMinority
Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairmanRanking member
Administrative Oversight and the CourtsSheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer RightsHerb Kohl (D-WI)Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Crime and DrugsArlen Specter (D-PA)Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Human Rights and the LawDick Durbin (D-IL)Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Immigration, Refugees and Border SecurityChuck Schumer (D-NY)John Cornyn (R-TX)
Terrorism and Homeland SecurityBen Cardin (D-MD)Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
The ConstitutionRuss Feingold (D-WI)Tom Coburn (R-OK)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ U.S. Senate: Committee on the Judiciary -- Committee Membership List
  2. ^ a b c "Jurisdiction". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  3. ^ "Senate Committee on the Judiciary". GovTrack. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  4. ^ "Guide to Senate Records: Chapter 13 Judiciary 1947-1968". National Archives. August 15, 2016. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  5. ^ "History". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  6. ^ Elliott, Philip (January 26, 2022). "How Republicans Can Block Stephen Breyer's Replacement". Time. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  7. ^ S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
  8. ^ S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)
  9. ^ "Majority Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Democratic Committee Assignments". Senate Democrats. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ In June 2001, Republican Jim Jeffords declared himself an Independent and caucused with the Democrats, giving the Democrats majority control.
  12. ^ "Members". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  13. ^ "Members". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
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