The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary (informally Senate Judiciary Committee) is a standing committee of the United States Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on whether to confirm or not confirm prospective federal judges (including Supreme Court justices) nominated by the president. In recent years, this role has made the committee increasingly a point of contention, with numerous party-line votes and standoffs over which judges should be approved. The committee also has a broad jurisdiction over matters relating to federal criminal law. Additionally, it is Senate procedure that all proposed Constitutional Amendments pass through the Judiciary Committee.
The committee is one of the oldest in the Senate. It was initially created in 1816.
The Committee is chaired by Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Following Arlen Specter's move to the Democratic party, the Ranking Minority Member is Jeff Sessions of Alabama for the duration of the 111th Congress, after which time Chuck Grassley of Iowa will assume that role.[1]
| 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
- Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania
- Al Franken, Minnesota
| |
Source: 2009 Congressional Record, Vol. 155, Page S5168 , S7168
[edit] Subcommittees
[edit] Chairmen since 1816
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