Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin, Lead Senate Sponsors Celebrate The Reauthorization Of The Violence Against Women Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and one of the lead cosponsors of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act, joined fellow lead cosponsors, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), to celebrate President Biden signing VAWA's reauthorization into law. "This is a monumental achievement for the survivors of domestic [and] sexual violence … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
A Proven Consensus Builder, Ketanji Brown Jackson Receives Broad Support From Across The Political Spectrum
WASHINGTON - Since the day President Biden announced his intention to nominate Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court, support for her nomination has flooded in. The Senate Judiciary Committee has received-and continues to receive-glowing support letters for her, highlighting her fair and evenhanded approach; her track record of collegiality and consensus-building; and her qualifications and preparedness to serve on our nation's highest court. The examples outlined below are just some of the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Judiciary Committee Advances Six District Court Judges, Two U.S. Attorneys
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Kenly Kiya Kato, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Jennifer Louise Rochon, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; Sunshine Suzanne Sykes, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Sherilyn Peace Garnett, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Nina Morrison, to be United … Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
Durbin Questions Justice Department In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Rise Of Hate Crimes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Combating the Rise in Hate Crimes." This hearing includes the first DOJ testimony on hate crimes since the January 15 synagogue attack in Colleyville, Texas, and the recent wave of bomb threats against Historically Black … Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of The Emmett Till Antilynching Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding Senate passage of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act: "Last night, the Senate unanimously passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which finally explicitly designates lynching as a hate crime in this country. There are direct links to this historic moment, the State of Illinois, and the City of Chicago. "Congressman Bobby Rush led the … Continue Reading
March 04, 2022
Senate Unanimously Passes Durbin, Blackburn Bill To Support Survivors Of Sex Abuse
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act by unanimous consent. This legislation-led by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)-would ensure that survivors of child sex abuse are able to seek justice under the federal civil remedy statute, 18 U.S.C. § 2255, without being barred by statutes of limitations. In practice, it would … Continue Reading
March 03, 2022
Senate Republican Blocks Durbin Attempt To Confirm Critical Law Enforcement Positions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, requested unanimous consent to approve the nominations of six U.S. Attorney (USA) nominees and two U.S. Marshal (USM) nominees. USAs and USMs play a critical role in enforcing the law, promoting public safety, and protecting our communities. Despite their eminent qualifications and support from other local law enforcement, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) objected to the unanimous consent … Continue Reading
March 02, 2022
Durbin Meets With Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after meeting with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden's nominee to the Supreme Court: "This is a moment of great historical significance. In the Court's history, there have been 115 Justices and not one of them has been a Black woman. With this nomination, President Biden has taken a critical step towards making our highest court look more like … Continue Reading
March 02, 2022
Durbin Announces Hearing Dates For Judge Jackson's Nomination To The Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing dates for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court in a letter to his Committee colleagues. The hearings will begin on Monday, March 21, with statements from Committee members, the individuals who will introduce Judge Jackson, and Judge Jackson herself. Questioning of Judge Jackson will begin on Tuesday, March 22 … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Durbin: Carjackings Are A Scourge On Society That We Have A Responsibility To Address
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 "Federal Support for Preventing and Responding to Carjackings." In his opening statement, Durbin reiterated that while preventing and prosecuting violent crime is primarily a state and local responsibility, the federal government plays an important role in addressing the rise in carjackings nationwide. Key quotes: … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Durbin: Judge Jackson Will Be A Supreme Court Justice In The Mold Of Justice Breyer
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. "Every Supreme Court nomination is critically important. This one has special historic significance. In the United States' history, our Supreme Court has had 115 Justices, 108 of those Justices have had one thing in common-they were all white men. Five of those … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Committee Hearing On Carjacking
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Cook County Sherriff Thomas Dart and President and CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau David J. Glawe about striking the balance between consumer privacy and providing law enforcement with prompt location tracking information of carjacked vehicles at today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Federal Support for Preventing and Responding to Carjackings." Durbin asked … Continue Reading
February 25, 2022
Feinstein, Durbin, Grassley Call For Additional Information On FBI's Response To Nassar Case
Washington-Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and a bipartisan group of Senate Judiciary Committee members today called on FBI Director Christopher Wray to provide additional details about the FBI's approach to child sex abuse cases following its failures to properly investigate the Larry Nassar case. In November, the senators sent letters to the FBI and Office of the Inspector General following the OIG's investigation into … Continue Reading
February 25, 2022
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson-former clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer-to be the next Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court: "From a strong list of prospective candidates, President Biden has chosen an extraordinary nominee in D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. … Continue Reading
February 17, 2022
Durbin: If Republicans Were Serious About Violent Crime, They Would Get Serious About The January 6 Insurrection
WASHINGTON - Responding to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today condemned the Republican Party's hypocrisy on combating violent crime. "We are going through regular-sometimes daily, sometimes weekly-lectures from the Republicans about who's soft on crime," Durbin said. "Every single nominee that comes from the Biden White House is subject to being challenged as to … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In Senate 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 Sherilyn Peace Garnett, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Nina Morrison, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; and Trina L. Thompson, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. During … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest 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 Sherilyn Peace Garnett, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Nina Morrison, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; Trina L. Thompson, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California; and Paul … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Durbin Responds To Senator Johnson Withholding Blue Slip For Eastern District Of Wisconsin Nominee
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, addressed a statement that Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) issued last night indicating he would not return a blue slip on Judge William Pocan, nominated to the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Judge Pocan was scheduled to appear at today's hearing, but the traditional practice of the Committee is not to proceed with hearings on district … Continue Reading
February 15, 2022
Durbin Highlights Johnson & Johnson's Shameful 'Texas Two-Step' Maneuver On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called out Johnson & Johnson for using a corporate bankruptcy shell game known as the 'Texas Two-Step' to avoid facing claims from cancer-stricken customers. The 'Texas Two-Step' is the name given to a highly controversial legal strategy that some of the biggest companies are now using to shield their assets from accountability. It allows massively wealthy … Continue Reading
February 11, 2022
Durbin Calls On FBI, Bureau Of Justice Statistics To Collect Nationwide Data On Carjacking
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today wrote letters to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) calling for prompt action to initiate nationwide data collection on carjacking. In his letters, Durbin emphasized that data collection plays a critical role in crime prevention and informing investigation and enforcement strategies that could help save lives. … Continue Reading