United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Senate Judiciary Committee
Standing committee
Active

United States Senate
119th Congress
History
FormedDecember 10, 1816
Leadership
ChairChuck Grassley (R)
Since January 3, 2025
Ranking memberDick Durbin (D)
Since January 3, 2025
Structure
Seats22 members
Political partiesMajority (12)
  •   Republican (12)
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

The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, informally known as the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of 22 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]

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

See also: Senate Judiciary Committee reviews of nominations to the Supreme Court of the United States

The committee considers presidential nominations for positions in the DOJ—including the Attorney-General and the Director of the FBI—, 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, 119th Congress

(January 3, 2025 – January 3, 2027)
Main article: 119th United States Congress
Majority[7] Minority[8]

Subcommittees

Subcommittee[9] Chair Ranking Member
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights Mike Lee (R-UT) Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Border Security and Immigration John Cornyn (R-TX) Alex Padilla (D-CA)
The Constitution Eric Schmitt (R-MO) Peter Welch (D-VT)
Crime and Counterterrorism Josh Hawley (R-MO) Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights Ted Cruz (R-TX) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Intellectual Property Thom Tillis (R-NC) Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Privacy, Technology and the Law Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Chairs since 1816

Name Party State Years
Dudley Chase Democratic-Republican Vermont 1816–1817
John J. Crittenden Democratic-Republican Kentucky 1817–1818
James Burrill Jr. Federalist Rhode Island 1818–1819
William Smith Democratic-Republican South Carolina 1819–1823
Martin Van Buren Democratic-Republican New York 1823–1828
John M. Berrien Jacksonian Georgia 1828–1829
John Rowan Democratic-Republican Kentucky 1829–1831
William L. Marcy Jacksonian New York 1831–1832
William Wilkins Jacksonian Pennsylvania 1832–1833
John M. Clayton Anti-Jacksonian Delaware 1833–1836
Felix Grundy Jacksonian Tennessee 1836–1838
Garret D. Wall Democratic New Jersey 1838–1841
John M. Berrien Whig Georgia 1841–1845
Chester Ashley Democratic Arkansas 1845–1847
Andrew P. Butler Democratic South Carolina 1847–1857
James A. Bayard Jr. Democratic Delaware 1857–1861
Lyman Trumbull Republican Illinois 1861–1872
George G. Wright Republican Iowa 1872
George F. Edmunds Republican Vermont 1872–1879
Allen G. Thurman Democratic Ohio 1879–1881
George F. Edmunds Republican Vermont 1881–1891
George Frisbie Hoar Republican Massachusetts 1891–1893
James L. Pugh Democratic Alabama 1893–1895
George Frisbie Hoar Republican Massachusetts 1895–1904
Orville H. Platt Republican Connecticut 1904–1905
Clarence D. Clark Republican Wyoming 1905–1912
Charles Allen Culberson Democratic Texas 1912–1919
Knute Nelson Republican Minnesota 1919–1923
Frank B. Brandegee Republican Connecticut 1923–1924
Albert B. Cummins Republican Iowa 1924–1926
George William Norris Republican Nebraska 1926–1933
Henry F. Ashurst Democratic Arizona 1933–1941
Frederick Van Nuys Democratic Indiana 1941–1945
Pat McCarran Democratic Nevada 1945–1947
Alexander Wiley Republican Wisconsin 1947–1949
Pat McCarran Democratic Nevada 1949–1953
William Langer Republican North Dakota 1953–1955
Harley M. Kilgore Democratic West Virginia 1955–1956
James Eastland Democratic Mississippi 1956–1978
Edward M. Kennedy Democratic Massachusetts 1978–1981
Strom Thurmond Republican South Carolina 1981–1987
Joe Biden Democratic Delaware 1987–1995
Orrin Hatch Republican Utah 1995–2001
Patrick Leahy[10] Democratic Vermont 2001
Orrin Hatch Republican Utah 2001
Patrick Leahy[11] Democratic Vermont 2001–2003
Orrin Hatch Republican Utah 2003–2005
Arlen Specter Republican Pennsylvania 2005–2007
Patrick Leahy Democratic Vermont 2007–2015
Chuck Grassley Republican Iowa 2015–2019
Lindsey Graham Republican South Carolina 2019–2021
Dick Durbin Democratic Illinois 2021–2025
Chuck Grassley Republican Iowa 2025–present

Historical committee rosters

118th Congress

(January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025)
Main article: 118th United States Congress
Majority[12] Minority[13]

Subcommittees

Subcommittee Chair Ranking Member
Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Mike Lee (R-UT)
The Constitution Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) (until September 29, 2023)
Laphonza Butler (D-CA) (from October 17, 2023) 		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 Jon Ossoff (D-GA) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety Alex Padilla (D-CA) John Cornyn (R-TX)
Intellectual Property Chris Coons (D-DE) Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Privacy, Technology and the Law Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Josh Hawley (R-MO)

117th Congress

(January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023)
Main article: 117th United States Congress
Majority[15] 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)
Main article: 116th United States Congress
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)
Main article: 115th United States Congress

[16] [17]

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)
Main article: 114th United States Congress

[18]

Majority Minority
Subcommittees
Subcommittee Chair 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)
Main article: 113th United States Congress

[19]

Majority Minority
Subcommittees
Subcommittee Chair 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)
Main article: 112th United States Congress

[20]

Majority Minority
Subcommittees
Subcommittee Chair 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)
Main article: 111th United States Congress

[21] [22]

Majority Minority
Subcommittees
Subcommittee Chair 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

  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. 16, S.Res. 38 (119th Congress)
  8. ^ S.Res. 17 (119th Congress)
  9. ^ "Grassley, Durbin Announce Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Assignments for the 119th Congress". Committee on the Judiciary. February 3, 2025.
  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. ^ S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
  13. ^ S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)
  14. ^ "Majority Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Democratic Committee Assignments". Senate Democrats. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Members". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.