Standing committee of the U.S. Senate
Senate Judiciary CommitteeStanding committee |
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Formed | December 10, 1816 |
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Chair | Dick Durbin (D) Since February 3, 2021 |
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Ranking member | Lindsey Graham (R) Since January 3, 2023 |
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Seats | 22 members |
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Political parties | Majority (11)
Minority (11)
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Policy areas | Federal judiciary, civil procedure, criminal procedure, civil liberties, copyrights, patents, trademarks, naturalization, constitutional amendments, congressional apportionment, state and territorial boundary lines |
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Oversight authority | Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, federal judicial nominations |
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House counterpart | House Committee on the Judiciary |
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226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. |
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judiciary.senate.gov |
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The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, informally known as the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of 22 U.S. senators whose role is to oversee the Department of Justice (DOJ), consider executive and judicial nominations, as well as review pending legislation.[1][2]
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.[1][3]
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.[4]
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.[1]
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.[5]
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).
Historical committee rosters
117th Congress
Majority[6]
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Minority
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- Dick Durbin, Illinois, Chairman
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Dianne Feinstein, California
- Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Chris Coons, Delaware
- Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
- Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
- Cory Booker, New Jersey
- Alex Padilla, California
- Jon Ossoff, Georgia
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- Chuck Grassley, Iowa, Ranking Member
- Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
- John Cornyn, Texas
- Mike Lee, Utah
- Ted Cruz, Texas
- Ben Sasse, Nebraska
- Josh Hawley, Missouri
- Tom Cotton, Arkansas
- John Kennedy, Louisiana
- Thom Tillis, North Carolina
- Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
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Subcommittees
116th Congress
Majority
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Minority
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- Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, Chair
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Cornyn, Texas
- Mike Lee, Utah
- Ted Cruz, Texas
- Ben Sasse, Nebraska
- Josh Hawley, Missouri
- Thom Tillis, North Carolina
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Mike Crapo, Idaho
- John Kennedy, Louisiana
- Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee[9]
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- Dianne Feinstein, California, Ranking Member
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Chris Coons, Delaware
- Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
- Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
- Cory Booker, New Jersey
- Kamala Harris, California
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- Subcommittees
115th Congress
[10]
[11]
Majority
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Minority
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- Chuck Grassley, Iowa, Chair
- Orrin Hatch, Utah
- Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
- John Cornyn, Texas
- Mike Lee, Utah
- Ted Cruz, Texas
- Ben Sasse, Nebraska
- Jeff Flake, Arizona
- Mike Crapo, Idaho
- Thom Tillis, North Carolina
- John Kennedy, Louisiana
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- Dianne Feinstein, California, Ranking Member
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Chris Coons, Delaware
- Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
- Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
- Cory Booker, New Jersey (from January 9, 2018)
- Kamala Harris, California (from January 9, 2018)
- Al Franken, Minnesota (until January 2, 2018)
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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
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Chair
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Ranking member
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Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
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Mike Lee (R-UT)
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Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
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Border Security and Immigration
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John Cornyn (R-TX)
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Dick Durbin (D-IL)
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Crime and Terrorism
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Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
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Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
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Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts
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Ben Sasse (R-NE)
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Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (from January 9, 2018) Chris Coons (D-DE) (until January 9, 2018)
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Privacy, Technology and the Law
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Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
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Chris Coons (D-DE) (from January 9, 2018) Al Franken (D-MN) (until January 2, 2018)
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The Constitution
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Ted Cruz (R-TX)
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Mazie Hirono (D-HI) (from January 9, 2018) Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (until January 9, 2018)
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114th Congress
[12]
Majority
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Minority
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- Chuck Grassley, Iowa, Chairman
- Orrin Hatch, Utah
- Jeff Sessions, Alabama
- Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
- John Cornyn, Texas
- Mike Lee, Utah
- Ted Cruz, Texas
- Jeff Flake, Arizona
- David Vitter, Louisiana
- David Perdue, Georgia
- Thom Tillis, North Carolina
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- Patrick Leahy, Vermont, Ranking Member
- Dianne Feinstein, California
- Chuck Schumer, New York
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Al Franken, Minnesota
- Chris Coons, Delaware
- Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
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- Subcommittees
113th Congress
[13]
Majority
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Minority
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- Patrick Leahy, Vermont, Chairman
- Dianne Feinstein, California
- Chuck Schumer, New York
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Al Franken, Minnesota
- Chris Coons, Delaware
- Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
- Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
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- Subcommittees
112th Congress
[14]
Majority
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Minority
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- Patrick Leahy, Vermont, Chairman
- Herb Kohl, Wisconsin
- Dianne Feinstein, California
- Chuck Schumer, New York
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Al Franken, Minnesota
- Chris Coons, Delaware
- Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
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- Subcommittees
111th Congress
[15]
[16]
Majority
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Minority
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- Patrick Leahy, Vermont, Chairman
- Herb Kohl, Wisconsin
- Dianne Feinstein, California
- Russ Feingold, Wisconsin
- Chuck Schumer, New York
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Ben Cardin, Maryland
- Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Ted Kaufman, Delaware (until November 15, 2010)
- Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania
- Al Franken, Minnesota
- Chris Coons, Delaware (from November 15, 2010)
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- Subcommittees