United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, informally known as the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of 21 U.S. senators^[1] whose role is to oversee the Department of Justice (DOJ), consider executive and judicial nominations, and review pending legislation.^[2][3]

Senate Judiciary Committee

Standing committee
Active United States Senate 118th Congress
History
Formed	December 10, 1816
Leadership
Chair	Dick Durbin (D) Since February 3, 2021
Ranking member	Lindsey Graham (R) Since January 3, 2023
Structure
Seats	21 members
Political parties	Majority (11)   Democratic (11) Minority (10)   Republican (10)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas	Federal judiciary, civil procedure, criminal procedure, civil liberties, copyrights, patents, trademarks, naturalization, constitutional amendments, congressional apportionment, state and territorial boundary lines
Oversight authority	Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, federal judicial nominations
House counterpart	House Committee on the Judiciary
Meeting place
226 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Website
judiciary.senate.gov
Rules
Rule XXV.1.(m), Standing Rules of the Senate Rules of Procedure U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Sonia Sotomayor testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on her nomination for the United States Supreme Court

In addition, the Standing Rules of the Senate confer jurisdiction to the Senate Judiciary Committee in certain areas, such as considering proposed constitutional amendments and legislation related to federal criminal law, human rights law, immigration, intellectual property, antitrust law, and internet privacy.^[2][4]

History

Established in 1816 as one of the original standing committees in the United States Senate, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary is one of the oldest and most influential committees in Congress. Its broad legislative jurisdiction has assured its primary role as a forum for the public discussion of social and constitutional issues. The committee is also responsible for oversight of key activities of the executive branch, and is responsible for the initial stages of the confirmation process of all judicial nominations for the federal judiciary.^[5]

Nominations

See also: Senate Judiciary Committee reviews of nominations to the Supreme Court of the United States

The committee considers presidential nominations for positions in the DOJ, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the State Justice Institute, and certain positions in the Department of Commerce and DHS. It is also in charge of holding hearings and investigating judicial nominations to the Supreme Court, the U.S. court of appeals, the U.S. district courts, and the Court of International Trade.^[2]

If a majority on the committee votes to advance a nomination, the nominee is reported favorably to the whole Senate, which can vote by simple majority to confirm the nominee.^[6]

Oversight

The Judiciary Committee's oversight of the DOJ includes all of the agencies under the DOJ's jurisdiction, such as the FBI. It also has oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Members, 118th Congress

Main article: 118th United States Congress

(January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025)

Majority[7]	Minority[8]
Dick Durbin, Illinois, Chairman Dianne Feinstein, California (until September 29, 2023) Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Chris Coons, Delaware Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Cory Booker, New Jersey Alex Padilla, California Jon Ossoff, Georgia Peter Welch, Vermont Laphonza Butler, California (from October 17, 2023)[9]	Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, Iowa John Cornyn, Texas Mike Lee, Utah Ted Cruz, Texas Josh Hawley, Missouri Tom Cotton, Arkansas John Kennedy, Louisiana Thom Tillis, North Carolina Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee

Dick Durbin, Democratic senator from Illinois, is the current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking Member
Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights	Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)	Mike Lee (R-UT)
The Constitution	Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) (until September 29, 2023) Laphonza Butler (D-CA) (from October 17, 2023)	Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism	Cory Booker (D-NJ)	Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights	Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)	John Kennedy (R-LA)
Human Rights and the Law	Jon Ossoff (D-GA)	Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety	Alex Padilla (D-CA)	John Cornyn (R-TX)
Intellectual Property	Chris Coons (D-DE)	Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Privacy, Technology and the Law	Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)	Josh Hawley (R-MO)

Chairs since 1816

Chair	Party	State	Years
Dudley Chase	Democratic-Republican	Vermont	1816–1817
John J. Crittenden	Democratic-Republican	Kentucky	1817–1818
James Burrill Jr.	Federalist	Rhode Island	1818–1819
William Smith	Democratic-Republican	South Carolina	1819–1823
Martin Van Buren	Democratic-Republican	New York	1823–1828
John M. Berrien	Jacksonian	Georgia	1828–1829
John Rowan	Democratic-Republican	Kentucky	1829–1831
William L. Marcy	Jacksonian	New York	1831–1832
William Wilkins	Jacksonian	Pennsylvania	1832–1833
John M. Clayton	Anti-Jacksonian	Delaware	1833–1836
Felix Grundy	Jacksonian	Tennessee	1836–1838
Garret D. Wall	Democratic	New Jersey	1838–1841
John M. Berrien	Whig	Georgia	1841–1845
Chester Ashley	Democratic	Arkansas	1845–1847
Andrew P. Butler	Democratic	South Carolina	1847–1857
James A. Bayard Jr.	Democratic	Delaware	1857–1861
Lyman Trumbull	Republican	Illinois	1861–1872
George G. Wright	Republican	Iowa	1872
George F. Edmunds	Republican	Vermont	1872–1879
Allen G. Thurman	Democratic	Ohio	1879–1881
George F. Edmunds	Republican	Vermont	1881–1891
George Frisbie Hoar	Republican	Massachusetts	1891–1893
James L. Pugh	Democratic	Alabama	1893–1895
George Frisbie Hoar	Republican	Massachusetts	1895–1904
Orville H. Platt	Republican	Connecticut	1904–1905
Clarence D. Clark	Republican	Wyoming	1905–1912
Charles Allen Culberson	Democratic	Texas	1912–1919
Knute Nelson	Republican	Minnesota	1919–1923
Frank B. Brandegee	Republican	Connecticut	1923–1924
Albert B. Cummins	Republican	Iowa	1924–1926
George William Norris	Republican	Nebraska	1926–1933
Henry F. Ashurst	Democratic	Arizona	1933–1941
Frederick Van Nuys	Democratic	Indiana	1941–1945
Pat McCarran	Democratic	Nevada	1945–1947
Alexander Wiley	Republican	Wisconsin	1947–1949
Pat McCarran	Democratic	Nevada	1949–1953
William Langer	Republican	North Dakota	1953–1955
Harley M. Kilgore	Democratic	West Virginia	1955–1956
James Eastland	Democratic	Mississippi	1956–1978
Edward M. Kennedy	Democratic	Massachusetts	1978–1981
Strom Thurmond	Republican	South Carolina	1981–1987
Joe Biden	Democratic	Delaware	1987–1995
Orrin Hatch	Republican	Utah	1995–2001
Patrick Leahy[10]	Democratic	Vermont	2001
Orrin Hatch	Republican	Utah	2001
Patrick Leahy[11]	Democratic	Vermont	2001–2003
Orrin Hatch	Republican	Utah	2003–2005
Arlen Specter	Republican	Pennsylvania	2005–2007
Patrick Leahy	Democratic	Vermont	2007–2015
Chuck Grassley	Republican	Iowa	2015–2019
Lindsey Graham	Republican	South Carolina	2019–2021
Dick Durbin	Democratic	Illinois	2021–present

Historical committee rosters

117th Congress

(January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023)

Main article: 117th United States Congress

Majority[12]	Minority
Dick Durbin, Illinois, Chairman Patrick Leahy, Vermont Dianne Feinstein, California Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Chris Coons, Delaware Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Cory Booker, New Jersey Alex Padilla, California Jon Ossoff, Georgia	Chuck Grassley, Iowa, Ranking Member Lindsey Graham, South Carolina John Cornyn, Texas Mike Lee, Utah Ted Cruz, Texas Ben Sasse, Nebraska Josh Hawley, Missouri Tom Cotton, Arkansas John Kennedy, Louisiana Thom Tillis, North Carolina Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking Member
Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights	Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)	Mike Lee (R-UT)
The Constitution	Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)	Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism	Cory Booker (D-NJ)	Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights	Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)	John Kennedy (R-LA)
Human Rights and the Law	Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)	Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety	Alex Padilla (D-CA)	John Cornyn (R-TX)
Intellectual Property	Patrick Leahy (D-VT)	Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Privacy, Technology and the Law	Chris Coons (D-DE)	Ben Sasse (R-NE)

116th Congress

(January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021)

Main article: 116th United States Congress

Majority	Minority
Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, Chair Chuck Grassley, Iowa John Cornyn, Texas Mike Lee, Utah Ted Cruz, Texas Ben Sasse, Nebraska Josh Hawley, Missouri Thom Tillis, North Carolina Joni Ernst, Iowa Mike Crapo, Idaho John Kennedy, Louisiana Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee[13]	Dianne Feinstein, California, Ranking Member Patrick Leahy, Vermont Dick Durbin, Illinois Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Chris Coons, Delaware Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Cory Booker, New Jersey Kamala Harris, California

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking member
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights	Mike Lee (R-UT)	Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Border Security and Immigration	John Cornyn (R-TX)	Dick Durbin (D-IL)
The Constitution	Ted Cruz (R-TX)	Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Crime and Terrorism	Josh Hawley (R-MO)	Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Intellectual Property	Thom Tillis (R-NC)	Chris Coons (D-DE)
Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts	Ben Sasse (R-NE)	Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

115th Congress

(January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019)

Main article: 115th United States Congress

^{[14] [15]}

Majority	Minority
Chuck Grassley, Iowa, Chair Orrin Hatch, Utah Lindsey Graham, South Carolina John Cornyn, Texas Mike Lee, Utah Ted Cruz, Texas Ben Sasse, Nebraska Jeff Flake, Arizona Mike Crapo, Idaho Thom Tillis, North Carolina John Kennedy, Louisiana	Dianne Feinstein, California, Ranking Member Patrick Leahy, Vermont Dick Durbin, Illinois Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Chris Coons, Delaware Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Cory Booker, New Jersey (from January 9, 2018) Kamala Harris, California (from January 9, 2018) Al Franken, Minnesota (until January 2, 2018)

In January 2018, the Democratic minority had their number of seats increase from 9 to 10 upon the election of Doug Jones (D-AL), changing the 52–48 Republican majority to 51–49. On January 2, 2018, Al Franken, who had been a member of the committee, resigned from the Senate following accusations of sexual misconduct.

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking member
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights	Mike Lee (R-UT)	Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Border Security and Immigration	John Cornyn (R-TX)	Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Crime and Terrorism	Lindsey Graham (R-SC)	Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts	Ben Sasse (R-NE)	Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (from January 9, 2018) Chris Coons (D-DE) (until January 9, 2018)
Privacy, Technology and the Law	Jeff Flake (R-AZ)	Chris Coons (D-DE) (from January 9, 2018) Al Franken (D-MN) (until January 2, 2018)
The Constitution	Ted Cruz (R-TX)	Mazie Hirono (D-HI) (from January 9, 2018) Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) (until January 9, 2018)

114th Congress

(January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017)

Main article: 114th United States Congress

^[16]

Majority	Minority
Chuck Grassley, Iowa, Chairman Orrin Hatch, Utah Jeff Sessions, Alabama Lindsey Graham, South Carolina John Cornyn, Texas Mike Lee, Utah Ted Cruz, Texas Jeff Flake, Arizona David Vitter, Louisiana David Perdue, Georgia Thom Tillis, North Carolina	Patrick Leahy, Vermont, Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, California Chuck Schumer, New York Dick Durbin, Illinois Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Al Franken, Minnesota Chris Coons, Delaware Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chairman	Ranking member
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights	Mike Lee (R-UT)	Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Crime and Terrorism	Lindsey Graham (R-SC)	Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Immigration and the National Interest	Jeff Sessions (R-AL)	Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts	Ted Cruz (R-TX)	Chris Coons (D-DE)
Privacy, Technology and the Law	Jeff Flake (R-AZ)	Al Franken (D-MN)
The Constitution	John Cornyn (R-TX)	Dick Durbin (D-IL)

113th Congress

(January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015)

Main article: 113th United States Congress

^[17]

Majority	Minority
Patrick Leahy, Vermont, Chairman Dianne Feinstein, California Chuck Schumer, New York Dick Durbin, Illinois Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Al Franken, Minnesota Chris Coons, Delaware Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Mazie Hirono, Hawaii	Chuck Grassley, Iowa, Ranking Member Orrin Hatch, Utah Jeff Sessions, Alabama Lindsey Graham, South Carolina John Cornyn, Texas Mike Lee, Utah Ted Cruz, Texas Jeff Flake, Arizona

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chairman	Ranking member
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights	Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)	Mike Lee (R-UT)
Bankruptcy and the Courts	Chris Coons (D-DE)	Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Crime and Terrorism	Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)	Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Immigration, Refugees and Border Security	Chuck Schumer (D-NY)	John Cornyn (R-TX)
Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Action	Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)	Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Privacy, Technology and the Law	Al Franken (D-MN)	Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights	Dick Durbin (D-IL)	Ted Cruz (R-TX)

112th Congress

(January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013)

Main article: 112th United States Congress

^[18]

Majority	Minority
Patrick Leahy, Vermont, Chairman Herb Kohl, Wisconsin Dianne Feinstein, California Chuck Schumer, New York Dick Durbin, Illinois Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Al Franken, Minnesota Chris Coons, Delaware Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut	Chuck Grassley, Iowa, Ranking Member Orrin Hatch, Utah Jon Kyl, Arizona Jeff Sessions, Alabama Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Mike Lee, Utah Tom Coburn, Oklahoma

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chairman	Ranking member
Administrative Oversight and the Courts	Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)	Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights	Herb Kohl (D-WI)	Mike Lee (R-UT)
Crime and Terrorism	Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)	Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Immigration, Refugees and Border Security	Chuck Schumer (D-NY)	John Cornyn (R-TX)
Privacy, Technology and the Law	Al Franken (D-MN)	Tom Coburn (R-OK)
The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights	Dick Durbin (D-IL)	Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

111th Congress

(January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011)

Main article: 111th United States Congress

^{[19] [20]}

Majority	Minority
Patrick Leahy, Vermont, Chairman Herb Kohl, Wisconsin Dianne Feinstein, California Russ Feingold, Wisconsin Chuck Schumer, New York Dick Durbin, Illinois Ben Cardin, Maryland Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Ted Kaufman, Delaware (until November 15, 2010) Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Al Franken, Minnesota Chris Coons, Delaware (from November 15, 2010)	Jeff Sessions, Alabama, Ranking Member Orrin Hatch, Utah Chuck Grassley, Iowa Jon Kyl, Arizona Lindsey Graham, South Carolina John Cornyn, Texas Tom Coburn, Oklahoma

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chairman	Ranking member
Administrative Oversight and the Courts	Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)	Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights	Herb Kohl (D-WI)	Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Crime and Drugs	Arlen Specter (D-PA)	Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Human Rights and the Law	Dick Durbin (D-IL)	Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Immigration, Refugees and Border Security	Chuck Schumer (D-NY)	John Cornyn (R-TX)
Terrorism and Homeland Security	Ben Cardin (D-MD)	Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
The Constitution	Russ Feingold (D-WI)	Tom Coburn (R-OK)

See also

• United States House Committee on the Judiciary
• List of current United States Senate committees

References

1. U.S. Senate: Committee on the Judiciary -- Committee Membership List
2. "Jurisdiction". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
3. "Senate Committee on the Judiciary". GovTrack. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
4. "Guide to Senate Records: Chapter 13 Judiciary 1947-1968". National Archives. August 15, 2016. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
5. "History". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
6. Elliott, Philip (January 26, 2022). "How Republicans Can Block Stephen Breyer's Replacement". Time. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
7. S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
8. S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)
9. "Majority Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Democratic Committee Assignments". Senate Democrats. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
10. When the Senate convened in January 2001 17 days before President George W. Bush was inaugurated, there was a 50–50 split between Democrats and Republicans with Vice President Al Gore as a tiebreaking vote.
11. In June 2001, Republican Jim Jeffords declared himself an Independent and caucused with the Democrats, giving the Democrats majority control.
12. "Members". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
13. "Members". United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
14. John J. Merlino (June 28, 2018). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Julie E. Adams, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
15. John J. Merlino (April 4, 2017). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Julie E. Adams, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
16. John J. Merlino (May 13, 2015). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Julie E. Adams, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
17. Kathleen Alvarez Tritak (April 10, 2014). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
18. Kathleen Alvarez Tritak (April 8, 2011). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Twelfth Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 20–21. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
19. Kathleen Alvarez Tritak (2010). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Eleventh Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 22–23. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
20. Kathleen Alvarez Tritak (October 1, 2010). "Judiciary". The Senate of the United States Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Eleventh Congress (PDF) (Report). Under the Direction of Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. pp. 22–23. Retrieved February 13, 2021.

External links

• United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Official Website (Archive)
• Senate Judiciary Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.