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United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

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Background
United States Congress • United States Senate • United States House of Representatives • United States Constitution • 113th United States Congress • 112th United States Congress


The Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate, commonly known as the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It considers matters related to the federal judiciary and the administration of justice in the United States. The committee has the responsibility to consider and confirm or deny presidential nominations to the federal justice system, including justices, judges, attorneys general and other top Justice Department officials.

The committee was created in 1816.[1]

Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominees

Ketanji Brown Jackson

See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2022

The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on March 21, 2022. President Biden nominated Jackson to succeed Stephen Breyer on the court on February 25, 2022.

Amy Coney Barrett

See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2020

The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on October 12, 2020. President Trump nominated Barrett to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the court on September 29, 2020.

Brett Kavanaugh

See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2018: An overview

The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on September 4, 2018. President Trump nominated Kavanaugh to succeed Anthony Kennedy on the court on July 9, 2018.

Neil Gorsuch

See also: Supreme Court vacancy, 2017: An overview

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court from March 20-23, 2017. Gorsuch was President Donald Trump's first nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Gorsuch was nominated on January 31, 2017, to succeed Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on February 13, 2016.

Nominations for attorney general

The following nominations were made for attorney general in the Obama, Biden, and Trump administrations.[2][3]

Confirmation process for nominees for attorney general
Nominee Announced Hearings Received Status Vote
Pam Bondi November 21, 2024 January 15-16, 2025 January 20, 2025 Confirmed on February 4, 2025 54-46
Matt Gaetz November 13, 2024 N/A N/A Withdrew on November 21, 2024 N/A
Merrick Garland January 7, 2021 February 22-23, 2021 January 20, 2021 Confirmed on March 10, 2021 70-30
William Barr December 7, 2018 January 15-16, 2019 January 3, 2019 Confirmed on February 14, 2019 54-45
Jeff Sessions November 18, 2016 January 10-11, 2017 January 20, 2017 Confirmed on February 8, 2017 52-47
Loretta Lynch November 9, 2014 January 28-29, 2015 November 13, 2014
January 7, 2015		 Confirmed on April 23, 2015 56-43
Eric Holder December 1, 2008 January 15-16, 2009 January 20, 2009 Confirmed on February 2, 2009 75-21

Leadership

Note: Ballotpedia is researching and collecting committee and subcommittee membership lists for the current meeting of the United States Congress. Once the information is verified, it will be added to this page. If you would like to send us an update or ask a question, email us.

119th Congress

The committee chairman in the 119th Congress is Chuck Grassley (R).

118th Congress

The committee chairman in the 118th Congress was Dick Durbin (D).

117th Congress

The committee chairman in the 117th Congress was Dick Durbin (D).

116th Congress

The committee chairman in the 116th Congress was Lindsey Graham (R).

115th Congress

The committee chairman in the 115th Congress was Chuck Grassley (R).

114th Congress

The committee chairman in the 114th Congress was Chuck Grassley (R).

113th Congress

The committee chairman in the 113th Congress was Patrick Leahy (D).[4]

112th Congress

The committee chairman in the 112th Congress was Patrick Leahy (D).

History

Beginning of the committee

The Senate Judiciary Committee was created in the early 1800s in response to growing complexities in American government. The Senate established the body's original standing committees, including the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a resolution adopted on December 10, 1816. The United States House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary had been established three years prior. The first chairman of the committee was Senator Dudley Chase of Vermont, who was appointed and served during the second session of the 14th Congress.[1]

Membership


2025-2026 (119th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments


2023-2024 (118th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments

Dianne Feinstein (D) left this committee on April 12, 2023. [Source]

Laphonza Butler (D) left this committee on December 08, 2024. [Source] [Source]


2021-2022 (117th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments


2019-2020 (116th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments


2017-2018 (115th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments


2015-2016 (114th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments

David Perdue (R) left this committee on January 03, 2021.


2013-2014 (113th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments


2011-2012 (112th Congress)

Source: US Senate - Membership Assignments



Subcommittees

Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights Members, 2025-2026
Democratic members (5)Republican members (6)
Cory Booker Ranking MemberMike Lee Chairman
Amy Klobuchar Josh Hawley
Richard Blumenthal Thom Tillis
Peter Welch Eric Schmitt
Adam Schiff Katie Britt
Ashley B. Moody


Border Security and Immigration

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration Members, 2025-2026
Democratic members (6)Republican members (7)
Alex Padilla Ranking MemberJohn Cornyn Chairman
Sheldon Whitehouse Lindsey Graham
Amy Klobuchar Ted Cruz
Chris Coons Thom Tillis
Mazie Hirono John Kennedy
Cory Booker Katie Britt
Ashley B. Moody


Crime and Counterterrorism

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism Members, 2025-2026
Democratic members (5)Republican members (6)
Richard J. Durbin Ranking MemberJosh Hawley Chairman
Amy Klobuchar Lindsey Graham
Chris Coons John Cornyn
Richard Blumenthal Ted Cruz
Cory Booker Marsha Blackburn
Katie Britt


Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights

This subcommittee was previously named Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Action. The name changed in the 116th congress. To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights Members, 2025-2026
Democratic members (5)Republican members (6)
Sheldon Whitehouse Ranking MemberTed Cruz Chairman
Richard Blumenthal Lindsey Graham
Mazie Hirono Mike Lee
Alex Padilla Thom Tillis
Peter Welch John Kennedy
Eric Schmitt


Note: Beginning in 2015, the name of this committee changed from Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Action to Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts [5]

Intellectual Property

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Intellectual Property Members, 2025-2026
Democratic members (5)Republican members (6)
Adam B. Schiff Ranking MemberThom Tillis Chairman
Sheldon Whitehouse Mike Lee
Chris Coons Marsha Blackburn
Mazie Hirono Eric Schmitt
Peter Welch Katie Britt
Ashley B. Moody


Privacy, Technology and the Law

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law Members, 2025-2026
Democratic members (5)Republican members (6)
Amy Klobuchar Ranking MemberMarsha Blackburn Chairman
Chris Coons Lindsey Graham
Richard Blumenthal John Cornyn
Alex Padilla Josh Hawley
Adam Schiff John Kennedy
Ashley B. Moody


The Constitution

To view the jurisdiction and recent activities of this subcommittee, please see the official committee page here.

Subcommittee on the Constitution Members, 2025-2026
Democratic members (6)Republican members (7)
Peter Welch Ranking MemberEric Schmitt Chairman
Sheldon Whitehouse John Cornyn
Mazie K. Hirono Mike Lee
Cory Booker Ted Cruz
Alex Padilla Josh Hawley
Adam Schiff John Kennedy
Marsha Blackburn


Note: Beginning in 2015, the name of this committee changed from The Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights to The Constitution.[5]

Decommissioned subcommittees

Jurisdiction

According to the official Senate website, the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee includes its role in conducting oversight and consideration of nominations. The committee also considers legislation, resolutions, messages, petitions, memorials and other matters, as provided for in the Standing Rules of the Senate. These areas include all of the following:[6]

“
  1. Apportionment of Representatives.
  2. Bankruptcy, mutiny, espionage, and counterfeiting.
  3. Civil liberties.
  4. Constitutional amendments.
  5. Federal courts and judges.
  6. Government information.
  7. Holidays and celebrations.
  8. Immigration and naturalization.
  9. Interstate compacts generally.
  10. Judicial proceedings, civil and criminal, generally.
  11. Local courts in territories and possessions.
  12. Measures relating to claims against the United States.
  13. National penitentiaries.
  14. Patent Office.
  15. Patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
  16. Protection of trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies.
  17. Revision and codification of the statutes of the United States.
  18. State and territorial boundary lines.
  19. Oversight of the Department of Justice and the agencies under the Department's jurisdiction, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security.
  20. Executive nominations for positions in the Department of Justice, Office of National Drug Control Policy, the United States Parole Commission, the United States Sentencing Commission, and the State Justice Institute, as well as select nominations for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Commerce are referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  21. The consideration of all Article III judicial nominations. These include Supreme Court nominations, appellate court nominations, and district court nominations. The Committee also considers nominations to the Court of International Trade.

[7]

”
—United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary[8]

Contact

224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-7703

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "History of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary," accessed January 27, 2012
  2. ↑ United States Senate, "Barack H. Obama Cabinet Nominations," accessed January 19, 2021
  3. ↑ United States Senate, "Donald J. Trump Cabinet Nominations," accessed January 19, 2021
  4. ↑ United States Senate Democrats, "Reid Announces Updated Committee Assignments For 113th Congress," January 4, 2013
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scom
  6. ↑ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Jurisdiction," accessed February 10, 2015
  7. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  8. ↑ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
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