United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

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Background
United States Congress • United States Senate • United States House of Representatives • United States Constitution • 113th United States Congress • 112th United States Congress


The Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate, commonly known as the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It considers matters related to the federal judiciary and the administration of justice in the United States. The committee has the responsibility to consider and confirm or deny presidential nominations to the federal justice system, including justices, judges, attorneys general and other top Justice Department officials.

The committee was created in 1816.[1]

Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominees

Ketanji Brown Jackson

See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2022

The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on March 21, 2022. President Biden nominated Jackson to succeed Stephen Breyer on the court on February 25, 2022.

Amy Coney Barrett

See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2020

The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on October 12, 2020. President Trump nominated Barrett to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the court on September 29, 2020.

Brett Kavanaugh

See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2018: An overview

The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on September 4, 2018. President Trump nominated Kavanaugh to succeed Anthony Kennedy on the court on July 9, 2018.

Neil Gorsuch

See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2017: An overview

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court from March 20-23, 2017. Gorsuch was President Donald Trump's first nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Gorsuch was nominated on January 31, 2017, to succeed Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on February 13, 2016.

Jeff Sessions

See also: Appointment confirmation process

A confirmation hearing for Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump's nominee for United States Attorney General was held on January 10, 2017.

Nominations for attorney general

The following nominations were made for attorney general in the Obama and Trump administrations.[2][3]

Confirmation process for nominees for attorney general
Nominee Announced Hearings Received Status Vote
Merrick Garland January 7, 2021 February 22-23, 2021 Confirmed on March 10, 2021 70-30
William Barr December 7, 2018 January 15-16, 2019 January 3, 2019 Confirmed on February 14, 2019 54-45
Jeff Sessions November 18, 2016 January 10-11, 2017 January 20, 2017 Confirmed on February 8, 2017 52-47
Loretta Lynch November 9, 2014 January 28-29, 2015 November 13, 2014
January 7, 2015		 Confirmed on April 23, 2015 56-43
Eric Holder December 1, 2008 January 15-16, 2009 January 20, 2009 Confirmed on February 2, 2009 75-21

Leadership

118th Congress

The committee chairman in the 118th Congress is Dick Durbin (D).

117th Congress

The committee chairman in the 117th Congress was Dick Durbin (D).

116th Congress

The committee chairman in the 116th Congress was Lindsey Graham (R).

115th Congress

The committee chairman in the 115th Congress was Chuck Grassley (R).

114th Congress

The committee chairman in the 114th Congress was Chuck Grassley (R).

113th Congress

The committee chairman in the 113th Congress was Patrick Leahy (D).[4]

112th Congress

The committee chairman in the 112th Congress was Patrick Leahy (D).

History

Beginning of the committee

The Senate Judiciary Committee was created in the early 1800s in response to growing complexities in American government. The Senate established the body's original standing committees, including the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a resolution adopted on December 10, 1816. The United States House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary had been established three years prior. The first chairman of the committee was Senator Dudley Chase of Vermont, who was appointed and served during the second session of the 14th Congress.[1]

Membership


2023-2024 (118th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments

Dianne Feinstein (D) left this committee on April 12, 2023. [Source]


2021-2022 (117th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments


2019-2020 (116th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments


2017-2018 (115th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments


2015-2016 (114th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments

David Perdue (R) left this committee on January 03, 2021.


2013-2014 (113th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments


2011-2012 (112th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments



Subcommittees

Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights Members, 2017-2018
Democratic members (3)Republican members (5)
Amy Klobuchar Ranking MemberMike Lee Chairman
Patrick Leahy Chuck Grassley
Richard Blumenthal Orrin Hatch
Lindsey Graham
Thom Tillis

Note: Beginning in 2023, the name of this committee changed from Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights to Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights[5]

The Constitution

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on the Constitution Members, 2017-2018
Democratic members (2)Republican members (5)
Richard Blumenthal Ranking MemberTed Cruz Chairman
Dick Durbin John Cornyn
Mike Crapo
Ben Sasse
Lindsey Graham

Note: Beginning in 2015, the name of this committee changed from The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights to The Constitution.[6]

Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism Members, 2017-2018
Democratic members (4)Republican members (5)
Sheldon Whitehouse Ranking MemberLindsey Graham Chairman
Dick Durbin John Cornyn
Amy Klobuchar Ted Cruz
Chris Coons Ben Sasse
John Neely Kennedy

Note: Beginning in 2023, the name of this committee changed from Crime and Terrorism to Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism[5]

Human Rights and the Law

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Ballotpedia is in the process of adding subcommittee membership information for the 117th congress. Check back soon for an updated member list.

Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety

This subcommittee was previously named Border Security and Immigration. The name changed in the 117th congress. To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Members, 2017-2018
Democratic members (6)Republican members (8)
Dick Durbin Ranking MemberJohn Cornyn Chairman
Dianne Feinstein Thom Tillis
Patrick Leahy John Neely Kennedy
Amy Klobuchar Chuck Grassley
Mazie Hirono Ted Cruz
Richard Blumenthal Jeff Flake
Mike Crapo
Mike Lee

Note: Beginning in 2015, the name of this committee changed from Immigration, Refugees and Border Security to Immigration and The National Interest[6]

Intellectual Property

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

  • 118th Congress Chairman: Vacant
  • 117th Congress Chairman: Patrick Leahy (VT)

Ballotpedia is in the process of adding subcommittee membership information for the 117th congress. Check back soon for an updated member list.

Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights

This subcommittee was previously named Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Action. The name changed in the 116th congress. To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts Members, 2017-2018
Democratic members (6)Republican members (8)
Chris Coons Ranking MemberBen Sasse Chairman
Patrick Leahy Chuck Grassley
Sheldon Whitehouse Mike Crapo
Amy Klobuchar John Neely Kennedy
Mazie Hirono Orrin Hatch
Richard Blumenthal Mike Lee
Jeff Flake
Thom Tillis

Note: Beginning in 2015, the name of this committee changed from Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Action to Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts [6]

Privacy, Technology and the Law

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law Members, 2017-2018
Democratic members (4)Republican members (6)
Patrick Leahy Jeff Flake Chairman
Sheldon Whitehouse Orrin Hatch
Christopher Coons Mike Lee
Mazie Hirono Thom Tillis
Mike Crapo
John Neely Kennedy

Jurisdiction

According to the official Senate website, the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee includes its role in conducting oversight and consideration of nominations. The committee also considers legislation, resolutions, messages, petitions, memorials and other matters, as provided for in the Standing Rules of the Senate. These areas include all of the following:[7]

“
  1. Apportionment of Representatives.
  2. Bankruptcy, mutiny, espionage, and counterfeiting.
  3. Civil liberties.
  4. Constitutional amendments.
  5. Federal courts and judges.
  6. Government information.
  7. Holidays and celebrations.
  8. Immigration and naturalization.
  9. Interstate compacts generally.
  10. Judicial proceedings, civil and criminal, generally.
  11. Local courts in territories and possessions.
  12. Measures relating to claims against the United States.
  13. National penitentiaries.
  14. Patent Office.
  15. Patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
  16. Protection of trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies.
  17. Revision and codification of the statutes of the United States.
  18. State and territorial boundary lines.
  19. Oversight of the Department of Justice and the agencies under the Department's jurisdiction, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security.
  20. Executive nominations for positions in the Department of Justice, Office of National Drug Control Policy, the United States Parole Commission, the United States Sentencing Commission, and the State Justice Institute, as well as select nominations for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Commerce are referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  21. The consideration of all Article III judicial nominations. These include Supreme Court nominations, appellate court nominations, and district court nominations. The Committee also considers nominations to the Court of International Trade.

[8]

”
—United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary[9]

Contact

224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-7703

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "History of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary," accessed January 27, 2012
  2. ↑ United States Senate, "Barack H. Obama Cabinet Nominations," accessed January 19, 2021
  3. ↑ United States Senate, "Donald J. Trump Cabinet Nominations," accessed January 19, 2021
  4. ↑ United States Senate Democrats, "Reid Announces Updated Committee Assignments For 113th Congress," January 4, 2013
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 United States Senate, "Committee Membership List," accessed February 8, 2022
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scom
  7. ↑ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Jurisdiction," accessed February 10, 2015
  8. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  9. ↑ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
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