United States House Committee on the Judiciary
Encyclopedia
Standing Committee
In the United States Congress, standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. . Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for...
of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
within the federal courts
United States federal courts
The United States federal courts make up the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government.-Categories:...
, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement entities. The Judiciary Committee is also the committee responsible for impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
s of federal officials. Because of the legal nature of its oversight, committee members usually have a legal background, but this is not required.
In the 112th Congress, the chairman of the committee is Republican Lamar Smith
Lamar S. Smith
Lamar Seeligson Smith is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. The district includes most of the wealthier sections of San Antonio and Austin, as well as nearly all of the Texas Hill Country...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and the ranking minority member is Democrat John Conyers
John Conyers
John Conyers, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1965 . He is a member of the Democratic Party...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
History
The committee was created on June 6, 1813 for the purpose of considering legislation related to the judicial system. This committee approved articles of impeachment against three Presidents: Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
(1868), Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
(1974), and Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
(1998).
Members, 112th Congress
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
John Conyers John Conyers, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1965 . He is a member of the Democratic Party... , Michigan, Ranking Member Howard Berman Howard Lawrence Berman is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He earlier served in the California State Assembly from 1974 to 1982, and as the U.S... , California Jerrold Nadler Jerrold Lewis "Jerry" Nadler is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1992. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the west side of Manhattan from the Upper West Side down to Battery Park, including the site where the World Trade Center stood... , New York Mel Watt Melvin Luther Watt is the United States House of Representatives for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:... , North Carolina Zoe Lofgren Zoe Lofgren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in San Jose.-Early life, education, and early career:... , California Maxine Waters Maxine Waters is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 29th district, serving since 1991. She is a member of the Democratic Party.... , California Steve Cohen Stephen Ira Cohen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Tennessee's 9th district includes almost three-fourths of Memphis. Cohen is Tennessee's first Jewish congressman.... , Tennessee Hank Johnson Henry C. "Hank" Johnson Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in DeKalb County, a largely suburban county east of Atlanta. It also includes portions of Gwinnett and Rockdale counties.-Life, education and... , Georgia Pedro Pierluisi Pedro R. Pierluisi Urrutia is a Puerto Rican lawyer and politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico and the United States Democratic Party... , Puerto Rico Judy Chu Judy May Chu, Ph.D. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. She is a member of the Democratic Party.... , California Ted Deutch Theodore E. "Ted" Deutch is the U.S. Representative for , serving since April 15, 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the Florida Senate.- Early life, education, and law career:... , Florida Linda Sánchez Linda T. Sánchez is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. She is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:... , California |
Source:
- Resolutions electing Republican members
- Resolutions electing Democratic members
Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking Member |
|---|---|---|
| Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law | Howard Coble Howard Coble John Howard Coble is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1985. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and pre-political career:Coble was born in Greensboro, North Carolina... (R-NC) |
Steve Cohen Steve Cohen Stephen Ira Cohen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Tennessee's 9th district includes almost three-fourths of Memphis. Cohen is Tennessee's first Jewish congressman.... (D-TN) |
| The Constitution | Trent Franks Trent Franks Trent Franks is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district takes in the entire northwestern corner of the state, including Kingman and Lake Havasu City, but most of its vote is cast in the western Phoenix suburbs.-Early life, education and... (R-AZ) |
Jerrold Nadler Jerrold Nadler Jerrold Lewis "Jerry" Nadler is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1992. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the west side of Manhattan from the Upper West Side down to Battery Park, including the site where the World Trade Center stood... (D-NY) |
| Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet is a subcommittee within the House Judiciary Committee. It was established in 2011.-Jurisdiction:... |
Bob Goodlatte Bob Goodlatte Robert William "Bob" Goodlatte is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Roanoke and also includes Lynchburg, Harrisonburg and Staunton.-Early life, education and career:... (R-VA) |
Mel Watt Mel Watt Melvin Luther Watt is the United States House of Representatives for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:... (D-NC) |
| Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security is a subcommittee within the House Judiciary Committee.-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:... |
Jim Sensenbrenner Jim Sensenbrenner Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr. is an American politician who has been a member of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives since 1979, representing . The district, the state's richest, includes many of Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs, and extends into rural... (R-WI) |
Bobby Scott (D-VA) |
| Immigration Policy and Enforcement | Elton Gallegly Elton Gallegly Elton William Gallegly is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 23rd and 21st, serving in Congress since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and pre-congressional career:... (R-CA) |
Zoe Lofgren Zoe Lofgren Zoe Lofgren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is based in San Jose.-Early life, education, and early career:... (D-CA) |
Source:a
United States House Judiciary Antitrust Task Force: 108th Congress
Chairman: Jim SensenbrennerJim Sensenbrenner
Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr. is an American politician who has been a member of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives since 1979, representing . The district, the state's richest, includes many of Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs, and extends into rural...
(R-WI); Ranking member: John Conyers
John Conyers
John Conyers, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1965 . He is a member of the Democratic Party...
(D-MI)
The Antitrust Task Force during the 108th Congress existed from March 26, 2003, to September 26, 2003. All Judiciary Committee Members also served as members of the Task Force, and conducted hearings and investigations into consolidation of the Bell Telephone
Bell Telephone
Bell Telephone may refer to:* Bell Telephone Company, several telephone companies with similar names* Bell Telephone Building , various* The Bell Telephone Hour, a long-running radio and television concert program...
Companies.
United States House Judiciary Antitrust Task Force: 110th Congress
Chairman: John ConyersJohn Conyers
John Conyers, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1965 . He is a member of the Democratic Party...
(D-MI); Ranking member: Steve Chabot
Steve Chabot
Steven Joseph "Steve" Chabot is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously represented the district from 1995 to 2009.-Early life, education and career:...
(R-OH)
The Antitrust Task Force during the 110th Congress was established February 28, 2007, as a temporary subcommittee to examine the pending merger between XM Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
. The task force operated like any other subcommittee, except that it only has a six-month term. House Rules limit each full committee to just five subcommittees, and any task force, special subcommittee, or other subunit of a standing committee that is established for a cumulative period longer than six months in a Congress counts against that total. A longer term for the task force would cause the Judiciary Committee to exceed this limit.
Judicial Task force on Judicial Impeachment: 110th and 111th Congresses
Chairman: Adam SchiffAdam Schiff
Adam Bennett Schiff is the U.S. Representative for . He has served in Congress since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
(D-CA); Ranking member: Bob Goodlatte
Bob Goodlatte
Robert William "Bob" Goodlatte is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Roanoke and also includes Lynchburg, Harrisonburg and Staunton.-Early life, education and career:...
(R-VA)
Established in September 2008, the Judicial Task force on Judicial Impeachment
Judicial Task force on Judicial Impeachment
On June 19, 2008, the Judicial Conference of the United States delivered to the House of Representatives notification certifying "its determination that consideration of impeachment of United States District Judge Thomas Porteous On June 19, 2008, the Judicial Conference of the United States...
was to look into charges against District Judge Thomas Porteous
Thomas Porteous
Gabriel Thomas Porteous, Jr. is a former United States federal judge who served for sixteen years before being impeached and removed from office in December 2010.-Background:...
. The investigation was not completed by the end of the 110th Congress, and it was reestablished after the 111th Congress convened in January 2009. The responsibilities of the Task Force were expanded to include the case of Judge Samuel B. Kent
Samuel B. Kent
Samuel B. Kent was a U.S District Court judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, in the single-judge Galveston Division covering Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, and Matagorda Counties. He was nominated by President George H.W...
, leading to hearings and his subsequent impeachment by the full House of Representatives. The Task force finally voted to impeach Porteous on January 21, 2010.
Hearings
- The Use and Misuse of Presidential Clemency Power for Executive Branch Officials (hearing) (2007)
- Equal Justice for Our Military Act of 2009, HR 569 (111th Congress) (2009). Congress holds a hearing to consider granting members of the U.S. Armed Forces access to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Chairmen since 1813
Charles J. Ingersoll (R-PA) 1813-1815 Hugh Nelson Hugh Nelson Sir Hugh Muir Nelson, KCMG was Premier of Queensland from 1893 to 1898.Nelson was born at Kilmarnock, Scotland. His father, Dr William Lambie Nelson, was elected to the first Queensland parliament in 1860 but was unseated because he was a minister of religion... (R-VA) 1815-1819 John Sergeant (R-PA) 1819-1822 Hugh Nelson Hugh Nelson Sir Hugh Muir Nelson, KCMG was Premier of Queensland from 1893 to 1898.Nelson was born at Kilmarnock, Scotland. His father, Dr William Lambie Nelson, was elected to the first Queensland parliament in 1860 but was unseated because he was a minister of religion... (R-VA) 1822-1823 Daniel Webster Daniel Webster Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests... (F-MA) 1823-1827 Philip P. Barbour (D-VA) 1827-1829 James Buchanan James Buchanan James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century.... (D-PA) 1829-1831 Warren R. Davis Warren R. Davis Warren Ransom Davis was an American attorney and Representative from South Carolina's 6th congressional district from 1827-35.... (D-SC) 1831-1833 Thomas F. Foster (W-GA) 1833-1835 Samuel Beardsley Samuel Beardsley Samuel Beardsley was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:... (D-NY) 1835-1836 Francis Thomas Francis Thomas Francis Thomas was a Maryland politician who served as the 26th Governor of Maryland from 1842–1844. He also served as a United States Representative from Maryland, representing at separate times the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh districts.-Early life and career:Thomas was born in Frederick... (D-MD) 1836-1839 John Sergeant (W-PA) 1839-1841 Daniel D. Barnard Daniel D. Barnard Daniel Dewey Barnard was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, Barnard attended the common schools and was graduated from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, in 1818.He studied law.... (W-NY) 1841-1843 William Wilkins (D-PA) 1843-1844 Romulus M. Saunders (D-NC) 1844-1845 George O. Rathbun George O. Rathbun George Oscar Rathbun was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Scipioville, near Auburn, New York, Rathbun attended the Auburn schools and was graduated from Hamilton College.He studied law.... (D-NY) 1845-1847 Joseph R. Ingersoll (W-PA) 1847-1849 |
James Thompson James Thompson (jurist) James Thompson was a politician and jurist from Pennsylvania.Thompson was born in Middlesex Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania on October 1, 1806. After learning the printing trade, Thompson studied law... (D-PA) 1849-1851 James X. McLanahan (D-PA) 1851-1853 Frederick P. Stanton (D-TN) 1853-1855 George A. Simmons George A. Simmons George Abel Simmons was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:Born in Lyme, New Hampshire, Simmons attended the district school. He was graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1816. He moved to Lansingburgh, New York, and was principal of the local academy. He studied... (W/R-NY) 1855-1857 George S. Houston George S. Houston George Smith Houston was an American Democratic politician who was the 24th Governor of Alabama from 1874 to 1878.... (D-AL) 1857-1859 John Hickman John Hickman (congressman) John Hickman was a Republican, Democratic and Anti-Lecompton Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.-Early life:... (R-PA) 1859-1863 James F. Wilson (R-IA) 1863-1869 John A. Bingham (R-OH) 1869-1873 Benjamin F. Butler Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician) Benjamin Franklin Butler was an American lawyer and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and later served as the 33rd Governor of Massachusetts.... (R-MA) 1873-1875 James P. Knott (D-KY) 1875-1881 Thomas Brackett Reed Thomas Brackett Reed Thomas Brackett Reed, , occasionally ridiculed as Czar Reed, was a U.S. Representative from Maine, and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1889–1891 and from 1895–1899... (R-ME) 1881-1883 John R. Tucker (D-VA) 1883-1887 David B. Culberson David B. Culberson David Browning Culberson was a Confederate soldier, a Democratic U.S. Representative from Texas and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.-Early years:... (D-TX) 1887-1889 Ezra B. Taylor Ezra B. Taylor Ezra Booth Taylor was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.-Biography:Taylor was born in Nelson Township, Portage County, Ohio and attended the common and select schools and academies. He studied law and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Portage County in 1845... (R-OH) 1889-1891 David B. Culberson David B. Culberson David Browning Culberson was a Confederate soldier, a Democratic U.S. Representative from Texas and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.-Early years:... (D-TX) 1891-1895 David B. Henderson David B. Henderson David Bremner Henderson , a ten-term Republican Congressman from Dubuque, Iowa, was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1899 to 1903... (R-IA) 1895-1899 George W. Ray George W. Ray George Washington Ray was a United States Representative from New York.Born in Otselic, he attended the common schools and Norwich Academy. During the Civil War he was a private in Company B, Ninetieth New York Volunteers, and brigade clerk, First Brigade, First Division, Nineteenth Army Corps... (R-NY) 1899-1903 |
John J. Jenkins John J. Jenkins John James Jenkins was a Republican U.S. Representative from Wisconsin from 1895 to 1909.Born in Weymouth, England, Jenkins emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1852, where they settled in Baraboo, Wisconsin. During the American Civil War, Jenkins served as a private with the 6th... (R-WI) 1903-1909 Richard W. Parker Richard W. Parker Richard Wayne Parker was an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey who represented the 6th congressional district from 1895 to 1903, the 7th district from 1903 to 1911, and the 9th district from 1914 to 1919 and again from 1921 to 1923,... (R-NJ) 1909-1911 Henry De Lamar Clayton (D-AL) 1911-1914 Edwin Y. Webb (D-NC) 1914-1919 Andrew J. Volstead (R-MN) 1919-1923 George S. Graham (R-PA) 1923-1931 Hatton W. Sumners Hatton W. Sumners Hatton William Sumners was a Congressman from Texas from 1913—1947 and served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.-Early life and career:... (D-TX) 1931-1947 Earl C. Michener Earl C. Michener Earl Cory Michener was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Michener was born near Attica in Seneca County, Ohio. He moved with his parents to Adrian, Michigan in 1889 and attended the public schools there. During the Spanish-American War, he served in the U.S... (R-MI) 1947-1949 Emmanuel Celler (D-NY) 1949-1953 Chauncey W. Reed Chauncey W. Reed Chauncey William Reed was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Chauncey Reed was born in West Chicago, Illinois to William Thomas Reed and Margaret Reed... (R-IL) 1953-1955 Emmanuel Celler (D-NY) 1955-1973 Peter W. Rodino, Jr. (D-NJ) 1973-1989 Jack Brooks Jack Brooks (politician) Jack Bascom Brooks is a retired Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Texas, who served for more than 40 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was defeated for reelection in the 1994 election... (D-TX) 1989-1995 Henry J. Hyde (R-IL) 1995-2001 Jim Sensenbrenner Jim Sensenbrenner Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr. is an American politician who has been a member of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives since 1979, representing . The district, the state's richest, includes many of Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs, and extends into rural... (R-WI) 2001-2007 John Conyers John Conyers John Conyers, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1965 . He is a member of the Democratic Party... (D-MI) 2007-2011 |
See also
- List of United States House committees
- United States congressional committeeUnited States Congressional committeeA congressional committee is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty . Committee membership enables members to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under their jurisdiction...
- United States Senate Committee on the JudiciaryUnited States Senate Committee on the JudiciaryThe United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
External links
- Committee on the Judiciary website
- Congressional Directory including lists of past memberships
- House Document No. 109-153, A History of the Committee on the Judiciary 1813–2006