Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin, Schumer, Civil Rights Leaders Celebrate Milestone Of 200th Judge Confirmed During Biden Administration
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and civil rights leaders today celebrated the milestone of 200 Article III judges confirmed during the Biden Administration. These 200 confirmations highlight the Judiciary Committee’s work filling judicial vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system. “Th… Continue Reading
05.22.24
In Speech on Senate Floor, Durbin Celebrates Milestone Of 200 Judges Confirmed During Biden Administration
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the confirmation of the 200th Article III judge confirmed during the Biden Administration. These 200 confirmations highlight the Judiciary Committee’s work filling judicial vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system. “Over the past three years something profound … Continue Reading
05.22.24
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Judiciary Committee Hearing On Five Judicial Nominations
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 Judge Michelle Court, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; Judge Anne Hwang, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; Judge Sarah Netburn, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; Stacey N… Continue Reading
05.21.24
Durbin Discusses Prison Reform Efforts During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Prison Labor In America
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed his efforts to date to reform the federal prison system, including conducting rigorous oversight and reducing the use of solitary confinement, at a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism hearing entitled “An Examination of Prison Labor in America.” “I’ve tried in my time on the Judiciary Committee, and in the few years that I have been Chair, to have a fo… Continue Reading
05.21.24
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing examined prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families. Durbin first questioned Dr. Will Feldman, a Physicia… Continue Reading
05.21.24
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee a hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing will examine prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families. Durbin spoke on the Senate floor yest… Continue Reading
05.20.24
Durbin Statement On Senate Confirmation Of Seth Aframe To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The First Circuit
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Mr. Seth Aframe to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Mr. Aframe’s confirmation: “Mr. Aframe is an experienced trial attorney and accomplished appellate practitioner who has over 20 years of legal experience. His significant litigation background and extensive experience in federal court ensure that he will … Continue Reading
05.20.24
Durbin Previews Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor highlighting tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing will examine prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families. Durbin began his remarks by r… Continue Reading
05.17.24
Durbin Calls on Justice Alito To Recuse Himself From Cases Related To The 2020 Election After A 'Stop The Steal' Symbol Was Displayed In His Yard
CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after a New York Times report that a “Stop the Steal” symbol—an upside-down American flag—was displayed in Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s yard: “Flying an upside-down American flag—a symbol of the so-called ‘Stop the Steal’ movement—clearly creates the appearance of bias. Justice Alito should recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election a… Continue Reading
05.15.24
Durbin Meets With Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association
WASHINGTON – During National Police Week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the largest nonpartisan, nonprofit professional association exclusively representing federal law enforcement officers with nearly 800 members in Illinois. During their meeting, Durbin and FLEOA leaders spoke about improving the recruitment and retention of federal law enforcement officers. Durbi… Continue Reading
05.10.23
Durbin, Graham, Grassley Meet With ICC Chief Prosecutor
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), met with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to receive an update on its investigation into the atrocities being committed in Ukraine. U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also joined the meeting. “The ICC has… Continue Reading
03.15.23
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Judiciary Committee Hearing On Public Safety & Gun Safety Laws In a Post-Bruen America
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 entitled, "Protecting Public Safety After New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen." The hearing focuses on the radical new standard for the constitutionality of modern-day gun safety laws set by the Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen in 2022. With that dec… Continue Reading
09.15.22
Senate Confirms Sarah Merriam To Second Circuit
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Sarah Merriam to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Merriam's confirmation: "Judge Sarah Merriam is a highly qualified and evenhanded jurist who has served as a federal judge for over seven years. Having previously worked as an Assistant Federal Defender, serving clients who could not otherwi… Continue Reading
09.15.22
Judiciary Committee Advances Two Circuit Court Nominees, Three District Court Nominees, One U.S. Attorney
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Dana M. Douglas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; Bradley N. Garcia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; Frances Kay Behm, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Jerry W. Blackwell, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota; and Anne M. Nardacci, to be United States District Judge for the Northern Distri… Continue Reading
09.14.22
Senate Confirms Lara Montecalvo To First Circuit
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Lara Montecalvo to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Montecalvo's confirmation: "Lara Montecalvo is a seasoned litigator with a demonstrated commitment to equal justice. Her career representing indigent defendants ensures that she appreciates the real world impact of judicial decisionmaking and… Continue Reading
09.13.22
Durbin, Blackburn Bill to Support Survivors of Child Sex Abuse Headed to President's Desk
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S.3103, the Eliminating Limits to Justice forChild Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill first introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). The bill now heads to the President's desk. "The science of trauma is clear: it often takes years for victims to come forward," Durbin said. "Our bipartisan bill honors the ba… Continue Reading
09.13.22
Durbin Questions Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Twitter whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko during today's hearing entitled "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Durbin began by questioning Mr. Zatko about the type of information that Twitter collects from its users. "Can we get into the real world now and talk about whether or not consumers across America have a right to be warned if they are opening a Twi… Continue Reading
09.13.22
Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Testimony Of Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released prepared testimony from Twitter whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko during today's hearing entitled "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Zatko, a data security expert and former head of security at Twitter, recently blew the whistle on alleged data security failures, foreign infiltration, and misrepresentations to regulatory agencies by Twitter. Key quotes as prepared: "[I] am here today because I believe that Twit… Continue Reading
09.12.22
Durbin, Grassley Press Twitter CEO On Reports Of Security Failures And Foreign Infiltration At Twitter
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 letter to Twitter Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Parag Agrawal seeking information regarding a recent whistleblower report concerning the social media platform. On August 23, 2022, multiple news outlets released a lengthy disclosure containing allegations made by Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, the former h… Continue Reading
09.12.22
Senate Confirms Salvador Mendoza To Ninth Circuit
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Salvador Mendoza to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Mendoza's confirmation: "Judge Mendoza is a highly experienced jurist with a life-long commitment to public and community service. He has distinguished himself on the bench, presiding over dozens of trials and demonstrating evenhande… Continue Reading