Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin: It Is Time For New Leadership At The Bureau Of Prisons
WASHINGTON - Following release of a report by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) that found that the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has failed to negotiate with the prison guard union for more than 20 months, leading to the delay of more than 30 critical BOP policies to help protect BOP staff and inmates, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today reiterated his call for Attorney General Merrick Garland to replace BOP … Continue Reading
November 16, 2021
Durbin Questions Secretary Mayorkas In Senate Judiciary Committee DHS Oversight Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at the Senate Judiciary Committee DHS oversight hearing. Durbin asked Secretary Mayorkas what the status is of the children who are still separated from their parents due to former President Trump's immoral and inhumane zero-tolerance policy. "President Biden's Interagency Task Force on the … Continue Reading
November 16, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing DHS Oversight 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 oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Durbin spoke about the chaos that DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas inherited after four years of the Trump Administration, as well as Congress' responsibility to fix our nation's broken immigration system. He continued to push DHS to do more to thwart … Continue Reading
November 16, 2021
Durbin Calls On AG Garland To Dismiss BOP Director Carvajal
WASHINGTON - Following an Associated Press investigation that found that the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is a "hotbed of abuse, graft and corruption, and has turned a blind eye to employees accused of misconduct," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement calling on Attorney General Merrick Garland to replace BOP Director Michael Carvajal, who was appointed during the Trump Administration: "Director … Continue Reading
November 15, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Nomination Of LaDon Reynolds To Serve As U.S. Marshal For The Northern District Of Illinois
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 released the following statement on President Biden nominating LaDon Reynolds to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois: "We applaud President Biden for nominating a seasoned law enforcement veteran in LaDon Reynolds to serve in this important role. Since 1994, Chief Reynolds has held several high-ranking positions for the … Continue Reading
November 10, 2021
Durbin, Senate, And House Dems Object To Johnson & Johnson Bankruptcy Maneuver, Demand Answers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with House Oversight and Reform Committee Chair Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12) and Chair of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), today sent a letter to Johnson & Johnson objecting to the company's efforts to manipulate bankruptcy laws to evade … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Durbin, Cassidy File NDAA Amendment To Ensure Greater Transparency For Third-Party Sellers Of Consumer Products Online
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to combat the online sale of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer products by ensuring transparency of high-volume third-party sellers in online retail marketplaces. The amendment consists of the text of H.R. 5502, which represents the most recent negotiated version of The Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Ahead Of Discharge Vote, Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Jennifer Sung To The Ninth Circuit
WASHINGTON - Ahead of her discharge vote on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of the nomination of Jennifer Sung to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted Ms. Sung's extensive experience. Ms. Sung received a 10-10 vote to advance out of Committee. Under the provisions of S. Res. 27, Leader Schumer had to file a discharge motion on Ms. Sung's … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Durbin Statement On Republican Filibuster Of John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans filibustered a procedural vote to move to consideration of the bipartisan John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act: "Four times this year, Republican Senators have used the filibuster to prevent this Senate from even debating voting rights. What has become of the Party of Lincoln? The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Durbin Questions Judge Sanchez, Nominated To Ninth Circuit, In Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Judge Gabriel Sanchez, nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, to describe his approach to judicial decision-making and how he will continue to be impartial and rule evenhandedly in all cases that come before him. "When cases come before you… what standard will you use?" Durbin asked. … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Latest Circuit & 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 Gabriel P. Sanchez, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Samantha D. Elliott, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Hampshire; Linda Lopez, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California; Katherine Marie Menendez, to be United … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Durbin, Leahy, Murkowski, Manchin Announce Bipartisan Compromise On John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released a bipartisan compromise on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This proposal - which builds on the version introduced earlier in October - reflects months of bipartisan negotiations and seeks to garner broader support in the Senate. Durbin, Leahy, Murkowski, and Manchin are … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Cleaning Up Online Marketplaces
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, "Cleaning Up Online Marketplaces: Protecting Against Stolen, Counterfeit, and Unsafe Goods." Durbin asked Aaron Muderick, Founder and President of Crazy Aaron's, whether he continues to deal with counterfeit and knock-off versions of his products on online marketplaces. "You said one of your employees was spending 15 … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement in Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Cleaning Up Online Marketplaces
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 entitled, "Cleaning Up Online Marketplaces: Protecting Against Stolen, Counterfeit, and Unsafe Goods." Durbin spoke about the massive amounts of illicit and dangerous consumer products sold by third party sellers that operate with inadequate transparency and oversight on online marketplaces like Amazon. Durbin … Continue Reading
November 01, 2021
Senate Confirms Beth Robinson To The Second Circuit & Toby Heytens To The Fourth Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Beth Robinson to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit and Toby Heytens to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit. Justice Robinson was confirmed by a bipartisan vote of 51-45 and Mr. Heytens was confirmed by a bipartisan vote of 53-43. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Justice Robinson's and Mr. Heytens's confirmation: … Continue Reading
October 27, 2021
Durbin Questions Attorney General Garland During Hearing On Oversight Of The Department Of Justice
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Oversight of the Department of Justice." Durbin asked Garland what the Department is doing to respond to gun violence and gun trafficking operations in Chicago. "Hardly a day goes by in the City of Chicago where somebody isn't killed by a firearm. The cases are heartbreaking…The gun … Continue Reading
October 27, 2021
Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations Of Six Judicial Nominees And Three U.S. Attorneys
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Lucy Haeran Koh, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Jane M. Beckering, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Michigan; Shalina D. Kumar, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Armando O. Bonilla, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims; Carolyn N. Lerner, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims; and … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Durbin Statement On Republican Filibuster Of The Freedom To Vote Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement today after the Freedom to Vote Act, legislation that would protect the right to vote, reform our broken campaign finance system, and secure our democracy, failed to advance on the Senate floor due to a Republican filibuster: "The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy. By continuing to filibuster voting rights legislation, Senate Republicans are putting … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Latest Judicial 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 Holly A. Thomas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Mary Katherine Dimke, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington; Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Charlotte N. Sweeney, … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Durbin Honors Civil Rights Legend Timuel Black, Calls For Passage Of Freedom To Vote Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today paid tribute on the Senate floor to Chicago civil rights legend and historian Timuel Black, who passed away last week at the age of 102. In his remarks, Durbin highlighted how Black served his country in World War II, landing in Normandy on D-Day, then went on to join the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1966, with Dr. King in Chicago, Black pressed for an end to … Continue Reading