Press Releases
Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Testimony By The American Bar Association
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee released the testimony as prepared on behalf of the American Bar Association (ABA). On March 18, the ABA officially rated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson unanimously "Well Qualified" to serve on the United States Supreme Court-ABA's highest possible rating. Key quotes: "Judge Jackson has a sterling reputation for integrity. Judges and lawyers who have known her in every capacity uniformly praised her character, calling her integrity … Continue Reading
March 24, 2022
Durbin Announces First Markup Of Judge Jackson's Nomination To The Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced on Monday, March 28 at 3:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM CT, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its first markup on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Durbin said, "The Committee will meet in Executive Session to consider Judge Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court this Monday, March 28th at 3:00 PM." … Continue Reading
March 23, 2022
Senate Confirms Alison Nathan To Second Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Alison Nathan's nomination to serve on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals by a vote of 49-47. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Nathan's confirmation: "Judge Nathan is a highly qualified and evenhanded jurist. For 10 years, before her elevation to the Second Circuit, she served with distinction on the U.S. District Court for the Southern … Continue Reading
March 23, 2022
Durbin Questions Judge Jackson On Freedom Of The Press
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson about interpreting the First Amendment, specifically freedom of the press, given the evolving technology that is available today compared to when the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, at the third day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on her nomination to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Durbin said, "How do you move … Continue Reading
March 23, 2022
Following Durbin's Questioning, Judge Jackson Reiterates Her Duty As A Public Defender Was To Provide The Right To Counsel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson about her role as a public defender, specifically to clarify Senator John Cornyn's (R-TX) false claims that she called former President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld "war criminals," on the third day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on her nomination to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The Sixth … Continue Reading
March 22, 2022
Following Durbin's Questioning, Judge Jackson Reiterates That She Will Maintain Separation Between The Judiciary And Policymaking
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson about her opinion on "court packing" on the second day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on her nomination to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. During his questioning, Durbin reminded his colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee that while Senate Republicans currently support maintaining nine Justices on the Supreme … Continue Reading
March 22, 2022
Durbin Questions Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson On The Right To Counsel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson about her role as a public defender at the second day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on her nomination to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Judge Jackson worked from 2005 to 2007 in the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Washington, D.C. At the time, the D.C. District Court was the exclusive venue charged with … Continue Reading
March 22, 2022
Durbin Questions Judge Jackson On The False, Debunked Claims Made By Senator Hawley
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, at the second day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on her nomination to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Durbin asked Judge Jackson about the false claims made by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), stating Judge Jackson "has a pattern of letting child pornography offenders off the hook for their appalling crimes." But in each case … Continue Reading
March 22, 2022
Durbin Questions Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson On Her Judicial Philosophy During Second Day Of Her Nomination Hearing To The Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson about her judicial philosophy on the second day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on her nomination to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Durbin asked Judge Jackson to explain her decisionmaking process on the bench. Durbin reminded his colleagues on the dais that Judge Jackson has shared her nearly 600 written judicial opinions … Continue Reading
March 21, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks At First Day Of Confirmation Hearings For Supreme Court Nominee Judge Jackson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening remarks at the first day of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Key quotes: "In its more than 230 years, the Court has had 115 Justices. 108 have been white men. Just two Justices have been men of color. Only five women have served on the Court-and just one woman of color. Not a single … Continue Reading
March 21, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks At First Day Of Confirmation Hearings For Supreme Court Nominee Judge Jackson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening remarks at the first day of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Key quotes: "In its more than 230 years, the Court has had 115 Justices. 108 have been white men. Just two Justices have been men of color. Only five women have served on the Court-and just one woman of color. Not a single … Continue Reading
March 21, 2022
Durbin Hosts Special Illinois Guests At First Day Of Confirmation Hearings For Supreme Court Nominee Judge Jackson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will host Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton (D-IL), Illinois State Senator and Majority Caucus Chair Mattie Hunter (D-IL-3), and Illinois State Representative and Chair of the Illinois House Black Caucus Kam Buckner (D-IL-26) today at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. "Today is an historic moment as the … Continue Reading
March 18, 2022
American Bar Association Rates Judge Jackson Unanimously "Well Qualified" To Serve On The Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - In a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the American Bar Association (ABA) rated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson unanimously "Well Qualified" to serve on the United States Supreme Court-ABA's highest possible rating. "As you know, the Standing Committee confines its evaluation to the qualities of integrity, professional competence, and … Continue Reading
March 18, 2022
Durbin Meets With Amalgamated Transit Union, Discusses New Resources For Worker Safety
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leadership of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), which represents thousands of Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Pace Suburban Bus workers, to discuss new safety measures included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to better protect transit employees while on the job. ATU has seen an increase in attacks on its members since the start of the pandemic, including a bus driver who was stabbed late last year. IIJA … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Durbin Honors World Water Day As Tribute To Late Senator Paul Simon
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor honoring World Water Day - a tribute to former Illinois Senator Paul Simon. In honor of his legacy, Durbin introduced The Paul Simon Water for the World Act, to build on and expand the original Paul Simon for the Poor Act. Simon was the author of the book "Tapped Out," which warned of the world's looming clean water crisis. "After Paul Simon passed away, I approached his family and talked about a tribute to … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Durbin: When Judge Jackson's Hearing Is Complete, America Will Understand What An Outstanding Justice She Will Be
WASHINGTON - Ahead of next week's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about Judge Jackson's breadth of experience, character and temperament, and evenhandedness and impartiality. "It's going to be an historic moment on Monday, as Judge Jackson appears before the Committee. Gaveling the hearing to order as Chair of the Committee … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Durbin Talks Financial Security With Illinois Comptroller
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza about the state's unemployment insurance trust fund to ensure residents continue to have access to the program as Illinois recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. During their meeting, Durbin and Mendoza discussed his legislation, the Continued Waiver of Interest on State Unemployment Loans during the Pandemic Act, which would retroactively extend the waiver of interest payments on federal … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Durbin Discusses Unprovoked Russian Invasion Of Ukraine With Russian-Opposition Figure Vladimir Kara-Murza
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today met with Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition figure who survived two poisoning attempts by the Kremlin. During the meeting, Durbin and Kara-Murza discussed the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine and his particular insights on Russian politics. They also discussed the increasing number of Russians who oppose Putin's war. "Vladimir is a fearless Russian patriot and leader … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Durbin, Toomey Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Add Ireland To E-3 Non-Immigrant Visa Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation to add Ireland to the E-3 non-immigrant visa program. The bill would allow Irish nationals annual access to any unused E-3 visas from the previous fiscal year. In exchange, Ireland intends to provide Americans expanded access to work visas in Ireland. "The United States and … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Durbin, Leahy, Padilla, Merkley, Colleagues Encourage Biden Administration's Efforts To Provide A Just Resolution For Families Separated Under The Former President's Cruel "Zero-Tolerance" Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration; and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today sent a letter to President Biden joined by 16 Senate colleagues voicing their support for his Administration's continued efforts to provide a just resolution for families who were separated under former … Continue Reading