United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

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See also: United States House Committee on the Judiciary

The U.S. 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 Congressional confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges. 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.

Senate Judiciary Committee considers the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to become the Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court to succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor during the 109th United States Congress. Members present on the panel (right to left): Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI), Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Ranking Member Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH). The committee eventually voted to proceed with Alito's nomination on a party-line vote.

The committee, along with the Finance and Foreign Relations committees, is one of the oldest in the Senate, having been initially created in 1816.

[edit] Members, 110th Congress

The Committee is chaired by Democrat Patrick Leahy from Vermont. The Ranking Minority Member is Republican Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania.

[edit] Subcommittees

• Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts
  • Chairman: Chuck Schumer, D-New York
  • Ranking Member: Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama
• Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
  • Chairman: Herbert Kohl, D-Wisconsin
  • Ranking Member: Orrin Hatch R-Utah
• Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights
  • Chairman: Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin
  • Ranking Member: Sam Brownback, R-Kansas
• Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law
  • Chairman: Richard Durbin, D-Illinois
  • Ranking Member: Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma
• Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs
  • Chairman: Joe Biden, D-Delaware
  • Ranking Member: Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina
• Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship
  • Chairman: Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts
  • Ranking Member: John Cornyn, R-Texas
• Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security
  • Chairman: Dianne Feinstein, D-California
  • Ranking Member: Jon Kyl, R-Arizona

[edit] Chairmen since 1816

[edit] External link

• United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Official Website

[edit] See also

• Samuel Alito Supreme Court nomination

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