Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Senate Confirms Veronica Rossman To The Tenth Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Veronica Rossman's nomination to serve on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals by a bipartisan vote of 50-42. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Rossman's confirmation: "With her extensive appellate experience in both private practice and as a federal public defender, Ms. Rossman will be an outstanding addition to the Tenth Circuit. As I have said … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Durbin, Cantwell Urge DOJ And FAA To Toughen Actions Against Dangerous Airline Passengers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today sent separate letters to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in light of an increase in incidents involving unruly airline passengers. Nearly three-fourths of these incidents have reportedly been related to federal mask mandates and have put … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Durbin Joins Introduction Of Constitutional Amendment To Overturn Citizens United
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to announce the reintroduction of the Democracy for All Amendment. The constitutional amendment would overturn the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. FEC decision, as well as other alarming decisions around campaign finance that led to floods of corporate and dark money in politics and diminished … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Durbin Questions FBI Director Wray And Inspector General Horowitz On FBI's Mishandling Of Nassar Abuse Case
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked FBI Director Christopher Wray to explain the FBI's abdication of responsibility and failure to investigate the Nassar case. "What strikes me here is there doesn't ever seem to be a sense of urgency or immediacy … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Durbin Questions Office Of National Drug Control Policy Nominee Dr. Rahul Gupta 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, questioned Dr. Rahul Gupta, nominated to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), about his work addressing the opioid crisis in America. "I was struck by the fact that you didn't head to the bright lights in your life. You headed to the communities that needed your help and many times chose rural areas and … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees 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, questioned Jennifer Sung, nominated to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, about her background and experience as a member of Oregon's Employment Relations Board. "You have been an appointed member of the Oregon Employment Relations Board since 2017…of the approximately 200 matters you have presided over, you … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Durbin Introduces Solicitor General, ONDCP, And Judicial Nominees At Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the nomination hearing for Elizabeth Prelogar to be Solicitor General of the United States; Justice Beth Robinson to be a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals; Jennifer Sung to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and Dr. Rahul Gupta to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Durbin said that the … Continue Reading
September 09, 2021
Durbin Statement On Chipman Nomination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House withdrew the nomination of David Chipman to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): "ATF is a federal agency focused on reducing gun violence by enforcing the law and prohibiting the sale of firearms to convicted felons and other dangerous individuals. The gun industry resents their work as it … Continue Reading
September 07, 2021
Durbin Discusses Staffing Concerns At USP Thomson With Local 4070 Of The Council Of Prison Locals
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke by phone with Jon Zumkehr, President of Local 4070 of the Council of Prison Locals (CPL), and Brian Mueller, CPL North Central Regional Vice President, about ongoing staffing challenges at USP Thomson and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities throughout Illinois. Durbin received an update on retention and recruitment efforts at USP Thomson, including the success of direct … Continue Reading
September 03, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee To Examine The Texas Abortion Ban And The Shadow Supreme Court's Abuse Of Its "Shadow Docket"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing examining the Supreme Court's abuse of its "shadow-docket," particularly its order permitting Texas's extreme new abortion restrictions to take effect this week. Late Wednesday night, the Court issued an order refusing to block the Texas law banning abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat-about six weeks from … Continue Reading
August 10, 2021
Durbin Speaks On Officer French And Straw Purchases Of Firearms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor regarding charges that the gun used to kill Chicago Police Department Officer Ella French this weekend was bought in a straw purchase by an Indiana man on behalf of another man who had a felony record and could not lawfully buy a gun for himself. "I hope that justice is delivered swiftly and fairly for the perpetrators of this horrible crime," Durbin said. "As … Continue Reading
August 10, 2021
Durbin To AG Garland: Prioritize Investigating And Prosecuting Straw Purchases Of Firearms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Chicago firearms trafficking Strike Force to immediately prioritize the investigation and prosecution of straw purchases that supply firearms to individuals with felony convictions in the Chicago area. This past weekend, Chicago Police Officer Ella French was fatally shot and her partner critically … Continue Reading
August 10, 2021
Durbin Statement On Illegally Purchased Gun Used To Kill CPD Officer French
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding charges that the gun used to kill Chicago Police Department Officer Ella French this weekend was bought in a straw purchase by an Indiana man on behalf of another man who had a felony record and could not buy a gun for himself: "The news that Officer French was killed and her partner wounded by a straw purchased Indiana handgun is infuriating. I have … Continue Reading
August 09, 2021
Durbin, Leahy, Booker, Colleagues: It's Time To End The Federal Death Penalty
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led 14 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take further steps to end the federal death penalty once and for all. In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Senators commend the recent decision to impose a moratorium on … Continue Reading
August 06, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Resolution Designating September As National Democracy Month
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced a Senate resolution designating September 2021 as National Democracy Month. The resolution asks Americans to reflect on the contributions of the system of government of the United States to a more free and stable world. "In some of his final words to us, Congressman John Lewis said, … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Durbin Calls On Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Eunice Lee To The Second Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor in support of Eunice Lee's nomination to serve on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. During his speech, Durbin called on his colleagues to support Ms. Lee's nomination in order to continue bringing balance to our nation's courts and elevating the professional perspective of public defenders that is underrepresented within our federal judiciary. The Senate is … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Judicial & Executive Nominations
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Myrna Pérez, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Jia M. Cobb, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Sarah A.L. Merriam, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; Florence Y. Pan, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Karen McGlashan Williams, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Press BOP On Restitution For Victims Of Larry Nassar
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a second letter to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal requesting answers to reports that BOP's inmate Trust Fund/Deposit Fund program operates with little oversight, enables federal inmates to avoid paying child support and other debts, and fails to scrutinize inmate … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin Honors D.C. Police Officers Who Responded To Insurrection On January 6 Who Recently Died By Suicide
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) honored D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers Gunther Hashida and Kyle DeFreytag-both officers who responded to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6-who recently died by suicide. With their deaths, four police officers who responded to the January 6 insurrection have now died by suicide. Durbin called on his colleagues to do everything possible to support the officers who responded to the … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform
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 "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Unlike most other types of debt, student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy except in extremely rare circumstances. Durbin asked Christopher Chapman, President and CEO of AccessLex Institute, and … Continue Reading