Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats Meet With President Biden And Vice President Harris To Discuss Supreme Court Vacancy
WASHINGTON - At a meeting in the White House, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee today met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss the Supreme Court vacancy. Along with Durbin, today's meeting was also attended by U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Durbin Highlights Violence Against Women Act, Ending Forced Arbitration Of Sexual Assault And Sexual Harassment Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the passage of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, legislation that will prevent survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault from being forced into secretive, biased forced arbitration proceedings. Durbin also called on the Senate to pass the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act (VAWA), which was introduced by Senators Durbin, Dianne … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Durbin Calls Out Republican Tactics To Stall U.S. Marshal Nominee For The Northern District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, fought back against stalling tactics by Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans, who were attempting to delay confirmation of LaDon Reynolds, nominee to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. Durbin praised Reynolds for his qualifications for the position and expressed support for his full … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Senate Confirms Leonard Stark To The Federal Court
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Leonard Stark's nomination to serve on the Federal Circuit by a vote of 61-35. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Stark's confirmation: "Judge Stark is an exceptional jurist whose extensive background as a trial judge includes presiding over thousands of patent cases and several dozen patent trials. Judge Stark has also served on several federal … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Modernize Violence Against Women Act
Washington-Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today introduced the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act. The bill, which would reauthorize VAWA through 2027, preserves advancements made in previous reauthorizations and includes a number of additional improvements to the current law. "This bill is the result of a true bipartisan effort, written in partnership with … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On U.S. Drone Strikes And Civilian Casualties
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "'Targeted Killing' and the Rule of Law: The Legal and Human Costs of 20 Years of U.S. Drone Strike." This is the first hearing since 2013-which Durbin also chaired-on the United States' use of drone strikes to lethally target suspected terrorists overseas. Durbin first questioned Stephen Pomper, Chief of Policy at … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing On U.S. Drone Strikes And Civilian Casualties
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during a hearing entitled "'Targeted Killing' and the Rule of Law: The Legal and Human Costs of 20 Years of U.S. Drone Strikes." This is the first hearing since 2013-which Durbin also chaired-on the United States' use of drone strikes to lethally target suspected terrorists overseas. Key quotes: "In the nine years since that 2013 hearing, the … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Durbin: The Supreme Court Is Dismantling Voting Rights, Congress Must Swiftly Enact The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today condemned the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling yesterday which blocked a lower court ruling that required Alabama lawmakers to draw new congressional districts before the 2022 elections to protect the rights of Black voters, who are currently gerrymandered into a single district. Because of this ruling, Alabama's upcoming elections will be conducted under a map … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Durbin: Republican Party Leaders Are Normalizing The Use Of Violence To Achieve Political Goals
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called out the Republican Party for its blatant disregard of American democracy days after the Republican National Committee declared the deadly January 6th insurrection a form of "legitimate political discourse." In his speech, Durbin went on to describe how the Big Lie has inspired Donald Trump's supporters to commit violent acts - or make threats of violence against public officials. The Brennan … Continue Reading
February 03, 2022
Durbin Slams Republican Obstruction Of Critical Law Enforcement Positions
WASHINGTON - In today's executive business meeting, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, attempted to advance the nominations of two U.S. Marshal (USM) and two U.S. Attorney (USA) nominees. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) blocked their advancement. In response, Durbin called out the dangerous obstruction of these and other chief law enforcement officers by the Republican Senator. "If anyone-Republican or Democrat-truly cares about preventing … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Urge DOJ To Share Update On Civil Rights Investigation Into Murder Of Laquan McDonald
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to provide a status update on the federal investigation into the 2014 murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by former police officer Jason Van Dyke. The joint federal and state investigation into the shooting was announced in April 2015, but DOJ has declined to … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Latest District Court Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Kenly Kiya Kato, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Jennifer Louise Rochon, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; and Sunshine Suzanne Sykes, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California. … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
King, Klobuchar, Durbin Share Discussion Draft To Modernize Electoral Count Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Senate Majority Whip and Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) released a discussion draft of their legislation, the Electoral Count Modernization Act, which would update the Electoral Count Act of 1887. In response to the threats to our democracy since the 2020 Presidential election, this legislation seeks to establish clear, consistent, and fair procedures for … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
Durbin To Biden Administration: Push Every Possible Lever To Secure The Safe And Urgent Release Of Mark Frerichs
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reiterated that the United States must do whatever it can to bring home Mark Frerichs, originally from Illinois and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, who was abducted in Afghanistan two years ago. At the time, Mr. Frerichs was working as a civil engineer and for a decade, he had been leading construction projects to benefit the Afghan people. "Two years ago Mark Frerichs, a veteran of the United … Continue Reading
January 31, 2022
Durbin Honors Justice Stephen Breyer On The Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today honored Justice Stephen Breyer on the Senate floor following his announcement that he will retire at the end of this Supreme Court term. "In his nearly three decades on the Supreme Court, Justice Stephen Breyer has… ensured the law is a force for good, a force for unity, and a force for freedom and equality," Durbin said. "Justice Breyer's record when it came to the Supreme … Continue Reading
January 26, 2022
Durbin Statement On Retirement Of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after reports that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to announce his retirement from the Supreme Court: "I thank Justice Breyer for his decades serving the Court and the nation. He has been a trusted voice on the bench with a first-rate legal mind. "With this Supreme Court vacancy, President Biden has the opportunity to nominate someone who will bring … Continue Reading
January 20, 2022
Senate Confirms Holly Thomas To Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Holly Thomas's nomination to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by a vote of 48-40. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Thomas's confirmation: "Judge Holly Thomas is a highly qualified and evenhanded jurist with a distinguished record of public service. Her varied professional background, extensive appellate experience, and tenure as a … Continue Reading
January 20, 2022
Judiciary Committee Advances One Circuit Court Nominee, Eleven District Court Nominees
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Alison J. Nathan, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Victoria Marie Calvert, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; John H. Chun, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington; Sarah Elisabeth Geraghty, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; Dale E. Ho, to be United States District Judge for the … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Durbin Votes For Rules Change Following Senate Republicans' Filibuster Of Historic Voting Rights Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted to support a change to Senate rules that would allow for a talking filibuster on the historic voting rights legislation-the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act-after Senate Republicans filibustered it earlier in the evening: "Unfortunately, a majority of Senators have pledged allegiance to the filibuster. But I believe there is something more critical than a Senate rule that has … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Durbin: To Restore The Power Of The Voting Rights Act Is To Restore The Promise Of America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his Republican colleagues to support critical voting rights legislation that will come before the Senate tonight. The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act combines the bipartisan John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also discussed the continued threat to our democracy posed by Donald Trump's "Big Lie." … Continue Reading