Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Gustavo Gelpi To The First Circuit
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of the nomination of Gustavo Gelpi to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted Judge Gelpi's extensive qualifications, as well as the judicial experience he would bring to the First Circuit. The Senate will proceed to a confirmation vote on Judge Gelpi's nomination tonight. "Having served as a federal … Continue Reading
October 08, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Screening Committee, Application Process For Federal District Court In 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 announced that they will begin accepting applications from those interested in serving as a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division. The Senators will be assisted by a screening committee whose task is to review and vet District Court candidates and advise the Senators regarding the candidates' … Continue Reading
October 07, 2021
Durbin: America Was Half-Step Away From A Full Blown Constitutional Crisis
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about an eight-month investigation report the Senate Judiciary Committee released today titled, "Subverting Justice: How the Former President and his Allies Pressured DOJ to Overturn the 2020 Election." Durbin said America was only a half-step away from a full blown constitutional crisis as President Donald Trump and his loyalists threatened a wholesale … Continue Reading
October 07, 2021
Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations Of Rahul Gupta & Elizabeth Prelogar
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Rahul Gupta, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy, and Elizabeth Prelogar, to be Solicitor General of the United States. Durbin delivered opening remarks highlighting the nominees' qualifications and experience. Gupta received a voice vote and Prelogar received a bipartisan 13-9 vote to advance out of Committee. Key quotes: "Dr. Gupta would be the first medical doctor to serve in [this] position, and he … Continue Reading
October 07, 2021
Following 8 Month Investigation, Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Report On Donald Trump's Scheme To Pressure DOJ & Overturn The 2020 Election
WASHINGTON - Following an eight-month investigation, the Senate Judiciary Committee today released new testimony and a staff report, "Subverting Justice: How the Former President and his Allies Pressured DOJ to Overturn the 2020 Election." The report and testimony reveal that we were only a half-step away from a full blown constitutional crisis as President Donald Trump and his loyalists threatened a wholesale takeover of the Department of Justice (DOJ). They also reveal how former Acting … Continue Reading
October 06, 2021
Durbin Questions Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke On Restoring The Voting Rights Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke during a hearing entitled "Protecting a Precious, Almost Sacred Right: The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act." The hearing addressed the urgent need to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which will restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act. "Texas is the latest legislature … Continue Reading
October 06, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statements In Latest Judicial & Executive 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 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 … Continue Reading
October 05, 2021
Durbin Meets With Biden's Nominee To Lead The Justice Department's Antitrust Division
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Jonathan Kanter, who has been nominated to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ). During their meeting, Durbin and Kanter discussed his extensive work advocating for strong and meaningful antitrust enforcement-particularly with respect to applying our antitrust laws to meet the challenges of the digital … Continue Reading
October 05, 2021
Durbin Questions Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco On Helping Young Victims Of Trauma & Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco during a hearing entitled "Renewing and Strengthening the Violence Against Women Act." Durbin asked Monaco about the impact of trauma on children and what resources the Department of Justice (DOJ) is using to assist victims of trauma or violence. "When you read the statistics of not only the number of spouses, but children of those spouses … Continue Reading
October 05, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing On Renewing And Strengthening The Violence Against Women Act
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 "Renewing and Strengthening the Violence Against Women Act." The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which requires legislative renewal every five years, initially expired in late 2018 due to the government shutdown. After a brief reauthorization in the temporary spending bill, it expired again in February 2019. Though funding for … Continue Reading
October 05, 2021
Breaking: Following Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing, Justice Department To Review Earlier Decision To Decline Prosecution Of FBI Agents Who Mishandled The Nassar Case
WASHINGTON - During her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in today's hearing "Renewing and Strengthening the Violence Against Women Act," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco told Chair Durbin that newly confirmed Assistant AG for the Criminal Division, Kenneth Polite, Jr, has opened a review of the Justice Department's earlier decision to decline prosecution of the agents who committed misconduct in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. This announcement comes three weeks after … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
Durbin, Grassley, Booker, Lee Introduce Legislation To Clarify Retroactivity Of Crack Cocaine Sentencing Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee; introduced the bipartisan Terry Technical Correction Act, which clarifies that all offenders who were sentenced for a crack cocaine offense before the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 can apply for its … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
Durbin, Schneider Introduce Legislation To Reduce Gun Violence From Stolen Firearms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced bicameral legislation aimed at reducing gun violence by preventing the theft of firearms from federally-licensed gun dealers (FFLs). The SECURE (Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective) Firearm Storage Act would address the problem of "smash and grab" gun store burglaries by requiring all firearms to be … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of U.S. Attorney Nominations
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the following nominations: Jessica D. Aber, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Carla B. Freedman, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; William J. Ihlenfeld, II, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia; Christopher R. Kavanaugh, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia; Darcie N. McElwee, to be United States Attorney … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Durbin: Texas Abortion Ban Is A Five-Alarm Fire For Due Process And Constitutional Rights
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today highlighted the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing entitled "Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban and the Role of the Shadow Docket," which examined the consequences of Texas's S.B. 8 abortion ban law and the increasing use of the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" to make drastic changes to legal and constitutional rights without full briefing, … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Hearing On Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban And The Role Of The Shadow Docket
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban and the Role of the Shadow Docket." Durbin began his questioning by highlighting how the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" has been used in recent years. "To argue that this shadow docket is just routine, it happens, nothing to see here, move along - the numbers don't tell that … Continue Reading
September 28, 2021
Senate Sponsors Laud House Passage Of EQUAL Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, Rob Portman (R-OH), Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the bipartisan Senate sponsors of the EQUAL Act, issued the following statement: "Today, House Republicans and Democrats joined together in passing the EQUAL Act, legislation that will once and … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Senate Confirms Director Of U.S. Marshals Service
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Ronald Davis's nomination to serve as Director of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) by unanimous consent. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Mr. Davis's confirmation: "Ronald Davis is an experienced law enforcement veteran who will be ready on day one to lead the U.S. Marshals Service-which is why it was no surprise that he won the support of … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Durbin Statement On Police Reform Negotiations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding bipartisan police reform negotiations: "Senator Booker, for nine months, exhausted every possible pathway to get to a bipartisan deal on policing reform. Even after Senator Booker secured the support of policing groups such as FOP and IACP for our proposals, we could not win GOP support for the effort. The challenge remains despite his … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Florence Pan To District Court Of D.C.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of the nomination of Florence Pan to the District Court for the District of Columbia ahead of her cloture vote on the Senate floor. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted Judge Pan's professional experience and the historic nature of her nomination. "This week, the Senate will vote on Florence Pan's nomination for the District Court for the District of … Continue Reading