Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves US Marshal Nominee in Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, unanimously approved Kenneth Bohac to serve as U.S. Marshal in the Central District of Illinois. His nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "Through many years of service to Illinois and his country, Kenneth Bohac has established a reputation for responsibility and professionalism in the law enforcement community," said Durbin. "It was an … Continue Reading
November 17, 2010
Durbin: White House Nominates Darrow to Fill Federal Judgeship in Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Sara Darrow to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois created by Judge Joe Billy McDade's decision to take senior status. "Sara Darrow is an outstanding candidate to serve as a federal judge in Peoria," said Durbin. "Her dedication to public service and her experience as a state and federal prosecutor and in private practice will serve her well … Continue Reading
June 28, 2010
Confirmation of Elena Kagan to be a Supreme Court Justice
General Kagan, welcome to you, your family, and friends, and congratulations on your nomination. This isn't your first hearing on a Supreme Court Justice nominee. If my notes are correct, some seventeen years ago you were sitting at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's nomination to serve on the Supreme Court. Your capacity was as a staff attorney for the chairman of the committee, Joe Biden. So you've seen this exercise as a staffer, and now in this … Continue Reading
June 28, 2010
Durbin: Senate Approves Feinerman for Federal Judgeship in Northern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate has approved Gary Feinerman, by a vote of 80-0, to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois."Gary Feinerman would be a fine federal judge," said Durbin. "His extensive experience and distinguished record will be an asset to the Northern District of Illinois. It was an honor recommending his name to President Obama and voting on his nomination … Continue Reading
June 28, 2010
Durbin Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Chicago's Handgun Laws
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Supreme Court handed down its opinion in McDonald v. City of Chicago, a decision likely to result in the overturning of longstanding handgun laws in Chicago and Oak Park."Much will be made of the Supreme Court's finding today that Americans have the right to own a gun for self-defense anywhere they live. But the Court also found that the right to keep and bear arms is not an unlimited right. … Continue Reading
June 22, 2010
Durbin: Senate Confirms Lewis to be U.S. Attorney in Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate unanimously approved James Lewis to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois. "With over twenty years of experience in the office of U.S. Attorney in Central Illinois, James Lewis brings a strong background in the law to this position," said Durbin. "I was honored to recommend his name to President Obama, and am confident that he will bring a strong work ethic, independence, … Continue Reading
June 17, 2010
Durbin: White House Nominates Myerscough to Fill Federal Judgeship in Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Appellate Court Justice Sue Myerscough to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois (Springfield). The White House recently nominated James Shadid to fill a vacancy in Peoria. Last month, Durbin began accepting applications for a third vacancy in this district and asked a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting candidates. "Sue … Continue Reading
June 10, 2010
Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves U.S. Attorney Nominee in Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, unanimously approved James Lewis to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois. His nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "James Lewis brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position of U.S. Attorney," said Durbin. "It was an honor to recommend his name to President Obama and I look forward to joining my … Continue Reading
May 27, 2010
Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves US Marshal Nominee in Northern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, unanimously approved Darryl McPherson to serve as U.S. Marshal in the Northern District of Illinois. His nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "Darryl McPherson will bring a great deal of knowledge and experience from his many years of service to the position of U.S. Marshal in the Northern District. It was an honor recommending … Continue Reading
May 12, 2010
Durbin Statement on his Meeting with Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement today after meeting with Supreme Court nominee, Solicitor General Elena Kagan: "Elena Kagan has extraordinary academic credentials, a long and impressive resume and has been a trailblazer both as the first woman Solicitor General and the first woman Dean of Harvard Law School. As Solicitor General, she is the nation's top lawyer and has argued six cases before the Supreme … Continue Reading
May 10, 2010
Durbin Statement on Nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the United States Supreme Court. "I applaud President Obama's decision to nominate Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Ms. Kagan is a remarkable lawyer who has worked in private practice, clerked for Illinois' own Judge Abner Mikva and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, served as a Senate staff … Continue Reading
April 26, 2010
Durbin Reconvenes Bipartisan Screening Committee; Calls for Applications to Fill Federal Judgeship in Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced that he will ask a bipartisan screening committee to meet again to assist in selecting a Federal District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois. At the end of February, Judge Joe Billy McDade took senior status, creating a third vacancy in the Central District. The other two vacancies were created by the announced retirements of Judge Michael Mihm and Judge Jeanne Scott, and Senator Durbin has previously … Continue Reading
April 21, 2010
Durbin: White House Nominates Chang to Fill Federal Judgeship in Northern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Edmond Chang for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. Chang is the third individual to be nominated to fill one of five pending vacancies in the Northern District. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the President's first two nominations: Sharon Coleman and Gary Feinerman. Those nominations will now … Continue Reading
April 21, 2010
Durbin, Lugar Ask Secretary Napolitano to Stop Deportations of Dream Act Students
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today, asking her to halt deportations of immigrant students who could earn legal status under legislation they have introduced called the DREAM Act (S.729). The DREAM Act is a narrowly tailored, bipartisan measure which would permit undocumented students to become permanent legal residents if they came here as … Continue Reading
April 15, 2010
Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Federal Judicial Nominees in Northern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, has unanimously approved the first two individuals to fill five pending vacancies on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois: Sharon Coleman and Gary Feinerman. Both nominations will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "Sharon Coleman and Gary Feinerman will each bring a great depth of experience and legal ability to the … Continue Reading
March 25, 2010
Durbin: White House Nominates Lewis to be U.S. Attorney in Illinois' Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated James Lewis to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois. "James Lewis has served in the Central District of Illinois for over twenty-five years," said Durbin. "I was honored to recommend his name to President Obama, and am confident that he will bring a strong work ethic and great depth of knowledge to the position of U.S. Attorney." Lewis has served as an … Continue Reading
March 18, 2010
Durbin, Other Senators Press Commonwealth Nations on Case of Missing Journalist
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter today to Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth Nations, urging him to launch an investigation into the case of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Gambian journalist who has been held incommunicado and without charge for almost four years. "Mr. Manneh's disappearance and the Gambian Government's ongoing refusal to account for his whereabouts are in direct contradiction of the strong human … Continue Reading
March 17, 2010
Durbin, Specter Bill Seeks to Get Fugitives Off the Street
[Washington, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL.) and Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA), have introduced legislation that seeks to increase the number of State and local fugitives who are arrested and prosecuted. The Fugitive Information Networked Database Act of 2010 (FIND Act) is designed to coordinate state and local data on warrants into the national database, increase the number of extraditions of fugitives caught in other states and to ascertain whether … Continue Reading
March 11, 2010
Judiciary Committee Reports Durbin's Fair Sentencing Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan bill to curtail the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine was unanimously reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today by a vote of 19-0. The Fair Sentencing Act, introduced by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) was amended by the Judiciary Committee and will reduce the current 100:1 sentencing disparity to roughly 20:1. "Drug use is a serious problem in America and we need tough legislation to combat it. But … Continue Reading
February 26, 2010
Durbin Forwards Recommendations for Federal Judges in Central District to White House
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today forwarded a list of names to the White House to consider when filling positions for the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois. There are currently vacancies to be filled on the U.S. District Court in the Central District. Based on recommendations made by a bipartisan screening committee in the state, Durbin has forwarded the names of the following four individuals to the President for consideration as Federal Judges … Continue Reading