Senate Judiciary Committee

03/18/2021

Congratulations to Rep. Roybal-Allard, the House Judiciary Committee, and the House for passing the American Dream and Promise Act today. The Senate should pass this bipartisan bill to support Dreamers across the country. #HomeIsHere

03/17/2021

LGBTQ Rights are Human Rights

Share if you agree: LGBTQ rights are human rights.

03/17/2021

WATCH: The Equality Act: LGBTQ Right are Human Rights

WATCH LIVE: At 10:00 AM ET, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a historic hearing entitled “The Equality Act: LGBTQ Rights are Human Rights” – because all Americans deserve to live free from discrimination.

03/11/2021

Subcommittee Chair Klobuchar holds hearing: "Competition Policy for the Twenty-First Century: The Case for Antitrust Reform."

WATCH LIVE: Senator Amy Klobuchar — Chair of the Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights — holds her first hearing: "Competition Policy for the Twenty-First Century: The Case for Antitrust Reform."

03/10/2021

Subcommittee Chair Whitehouse holds hearing: “What’s Wrong with the Supreme Court”

WATCH LIVE: Subcommittee Chair Whitehouse's hearing “What’s Wrong with the Supreme Court” begins now.

03/09/2021

Nominations Hearing: Lisa Monaco and Vanita Gupta

WATCH LIVE: At 9:30 AM ET, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the nominations of Lisa Monaco to be Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice, and Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice.

03/08/2021

A "right-wing smear campaign against qualified women of color."

WATCH Al Sharpton on Politics Nation: "Civil rights activists like myself are pushing back" on the GOP's attacks against Vanita Gupta, "calling it for what it is: another right-wing smear campaign against qualified women of color." #HerFightOurFight

03/05/2021

A new Senate Judiciary Committee

In its first two weeks, this Committee has begun to make significant strides in confronting the threat of white supremacy and domestic terrorism, building a more equitable justice system, and restoring integrity at the DOJ.

America: this is your new Senate Judiciary Committee.

03/02/2021

January 6 and the threat of domestic terrorism

JUST NOW: at a hearing on FBI oversight and domestic terrorism, Chair Senator Dick Durbin releases footage detailing first-hand accounts of the horrors of the January 6 insurrection.

We can't turn a blind eye to this violent extremism. Please watch, share, and ask yourself: is this America?

03/02/2021

HEARING: Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation: the January 6 Insurrection, Domestic Terrorism, and Other Threats.

WATCH LIVE: Christopher Wray, Director of the FBI, testifies before Congress for the first time since the January 6 insurrection in a hearing entitled “Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation: the January 6 Insurrection, Domestic Terrorism, and Other Threats.”

03/01/2021

WATCH LIVE: the Senate Judiciary Committee holds an executive business meeting on the nomination of Merrick B. Garland to be U.S. Attorney General

WATCH LIVE: the Senate Judiciary Committee holds an executive business meeting on the nomination of Merrick B. Garland to be U.S. Attorney General

02/26/2021

Senate Judiciary Committee's cover photo

02/26/2021

Senate Judiciary Committee

02/24/2021

We must confirm Merrick Garland

It is in our best national security interest to confirm an Attorney General as quickly as possible. Judge Garland's nomination has received bipartisan support from lawmakers, law enforcement, & civil rights advocates alike. Chair Senator Dick Durbin is right: we must confirm Garland.

02/24/2021

United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

NEW: Following the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the Senate Judiciary Committee is investigating what the FBI is doing to combat the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism.

Judiciary Chair Senator Dick Durbin led a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting information on how the FBI is prioritizing its domestic terrorism work and whether it is adequately addressing the violent white supremacist threat. Read it here: https://t.co/DCmHvex0ba?amp=1

FBI Director Wray will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee next Tuesday, March 2. The American people deserve answers on how the Bureau is addressing the threat of violence by white supremacists, whom DHS has called ‘the most persistent and lethal threat in the Homeland.’

United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

02/23/2021

During Chair Senator Dick Durbin's questioning, Mr. Wade Henderson of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights outlined the moral crisis of racial disparities in voter suppression: "At times like these, it's important that an individual of [Garland's] integrity and stature be chosen to represent the Department."

02/23/2021

WATCH LIVE: The Nomination of the Honorable Merrick Brian Garland to be Attorney General of the United States: Day 2

WATCH LIVE: The Nomination of the Honorable Merrick Brian Garland to be Attorney General of the United States: Day 2

02/23/2021

Judge Garlandʼs nomination underscores President Bidenʼs commitment to restore integrity and the rule of law, boost morale of the dedicated career professionals at DOJ, and build a more equitable justice system. His testimony at today's hearing was further proof he's who we need as AG.

02/23/2021

Today, a Democrat presided as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the first time since 2014, AND Merrick Garland was finally given the chance to appear before the Committee and show the nation why he's an outstanding choice for Attorney General.

Today was a good day.

02/22/2021

Ahead of the first anniversary of the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man pursued and killed while jogging, Senator Jon Ossoff asks Merrick Garland what DOJ can do to support the accountability of prosecutors and law enforcement at the local level.

Judge Garland's response:

02/22/2021

Senator Alex Padilla, in discussing the 2020 election and domestic terrorism, asks Judge Garland how he intends to use DOJ resources to combat the threat that white supremacist groups pose to our democracy.

Garland: "We have to have a focus on what's happening all over the country."

02/22/2021

In his nomination hearing to be Attorney General, Judge Merrick Garland delivers a heartfelt response to Senator Cory Booker regarding his motivation to be the Nation's chief law enforcement officer and confront hate and discrimination.

02/22/2021

Senator Cory Booker questions Judge Garland on implicit racial bias in the justice system and racial disparities in incarceration for non-violent crimes.

"This is part of the reason at this moment I want to be the Attorney General. I want to do the best I can to stop this."

02/22/2021

Senator Mazie K. Hirono questions Merrick Garland during his nomination hearing to be U.S. Attorney General, continuing on the theme of voting rights: "Are you aware of any evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election?"

Judge Garland: "No, Senator." Notes DHS publicly described the last election as the "most secure in American history."

02/22/2021

Senator Richard Blumenthal asks Judge Garland, if confirmed as Attorney General, to support and enforce efforts to combat hate crimes.

Garland: "You couldn't have any opposition from me in that manner, Senator. Hate crimes tear at the fabric of our society."

02/22/2021

Senator Amy Klobuchar during Merrick Garland's nomination hearing for U.S. Attorney General: "What is the number one thing you want to do to boost morale in the Department of Justice?"

Judge Garland: "I want to make clear [to the Department] that my job is to protect them from partisan or other improper motives."

02/22/2021

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse questions Merrick Garland during his nomination hearing for U.S. Attorney General. In his questioning, the Senator addresses DOJ stonewalling and Judge Garland commits to a responsive DOJ: "There will be no policy de facto or otherwise that would direct the department to not be responsive to this Committee. I want the department I lead to be as responsive as possible."

02/22/2021

Senator Patrick Leahy addresses other critical DOJ priorities, including voter suppression targeting communities of color and the need to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and #RestoretheVRA.

Judge Garland: "Voting is the central facet—the fulcrum of our democracy."

02/22/2021

U.S. Senator Chris Coons questions Merrick Garland during his nomination hearing for U.S. Attorney General: "Could you agree to be an advocate for the funding and deployment of body-worn cameras to ensure accountability and improved trust between law enforcement and local communities?"

In responding, Judge Garland commits to supporting tools for accountability:

02/22/2021

Senator Dianne Feinstein questions Merrick Garland during his nomination hearing for Attorney General: "What steps will you take to ensure that the perpetrators of the attack on our Capitol are brought to justice?"

Garland: "I intend to give the career prosecutors working on this matter all the resources they could possibly require to do this."

02/22/2021

As AG, Merrick Garland will be the people's lawyer: "Serving as Attorney General will be the culmination of a career I have dedicated to ensuring that the laws of our country are fairly and faithfully enforced, and that the rights of all Americans are protected."

02/22/2021

Chair Senator Dick Durbin to Merrick Garland: "You will be tasked with the solemn duty to responsibly investigate the events of [Jan 6]; to prosecute all of the individuals responsible; and to prevent future attacks driven by hate, inflammatory words, and bizarre conspiracy theories."

02/22/2021

Chair Durbin opening remarks: "This Committee can make a difference. We have the jurisdiction and opportunity to do so, through legislation, through oversight, and through nominations—including the nomination of Merrick Garland to serve as our nation’s next Attorney General."

02/21/2021

www.judiciary.senate.gov

The Senate Judiciary Committee has released Judge Merrick Garland’s opening statement ahead of his nomination hearing to be U.S. Attorney General on Monday, February 22.

Judge Garland: “If I am confirmed, serving as Attorney General will be the culmination of a career I have dedicated to ensuring that the laws of our country are fairly and faithfully enforced, and that the rights of all Americans are protected.”

Full text of Judge Garland's prepared remarks: https://bit.ly/2M9tPAf

02/19/2021

Welcome to the new Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Dick Durbin.

This moment in history demands much of the Senate Judiciary Committee. We start by confirming President Biden’s nominees; combating the threat of domestic terrorism; passing long overdue reforms, like the Dream Act, to fix our broken immigration system; and addressing systemic racism in our society and criminal justice system.

Our success will help determine the future of our country. It’s time to get to work.