Judiciary

WASHINGTON -- October 15, 2009 – The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday reported bipartisan legislation that will give fair compensation to musical artists while protecting songwriters. The bill reported by the Committee responds to concerns from smaller commercial and noncommercial stations by providing a flat annual royalty option for unlimited use of music.

Introduced in February by Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the Performance Rights Act will end an exemption that benefits traditional, over-the-air broadcasters that are not required to pay recording artists for use of their work. Webcasters, satellite radio providers, and cable companies are required under current law to pay compensation to artists.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), along with Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (MI-14) and Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Mel Watt (NC-12), Bill Delahunt (MA-10), Linda Sanchez (CA-39) and Hank Johnson (GA-04), introduced the Civil Access to Justice Act of 2009.

The main purpose of this legislation is to reauthorize the Legal Services Corporation Act, which has not been reauthorized by Congress since 1977. A companion bill was introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (IA) earlier this year.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- October 7, 2009 – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday chaired a hearing in which the Committee examined two Supreme Court decisions that have made it more difficult for workers to take employers to court for civil rights violations and, once there, more difficult for victims to prove workplace discrimination.

The hearing focused on Circuit City v. Adams, which extended the scope of the Federal Arbitration Act to cover employment contracts, and Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., a recent decision that made it more difficult to prove age discrimination in the workplace. A narrowly divided Supreme Court issued 5-4 decisions in both cases.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- September 29, 2009 – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday announced that the Committee will hold a hearing to examine two Supreme Court decisions that have made it more difficult for workers to take employers to court for civil rights violations and, once there, more difficult for victims to prove workplace discrimination.

The hearing will focus on Circuit City v. Adams, which extended the scope of the Federal Arbitration Act to cover employment contracts, and Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., a recent decision that made it more difficult to prove age discrimination in the workplace. A narrowly divided Supreme Court issued 5-4 decisions in both cases.    » read more »

As Prepared

June 23, 2009 -- "I thank Senator Menendez and Senator Schumer for their outstanding statements to the Senate today. As I review Judge Sotomayor’s record in preparation for her confirmation hearing on July 13, I am struck by her extraordinary career and how she has excelled at everything she has done. I know how proud her mother Celina is of her accomplishments.    » read more »

Senator Impressed with Judge's Personal and Professional Experience

June 10, 2009 -- Washington – Senator Kent Conrad left his meeting today with Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor saying he was impressed with the federal judge’s vast experience and background.

“I had a productive meeting with Judge Sotomayor and learned more about her background and how she would interpret the Constitution,” Senator Conrad said after the one-on-one meeting. “We need justices who will impartially interpret the law and the Constitution and also possess a record of sound judgment.”    » read more »

National Law Enforcement Organizations Endorse Judge Sonia Sotomayor For The United States Supreme Court

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Vice President Joe Biden was joined today by representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, who together announced their support for and endorsement of Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court.

With these endorsements, law enforcement organizations from around the country stand firmly behind Judge Sotomayor’s nomination. These groups know her record on crime: as a prosecutor and then on the federal bench, Judge Sotomayor has always been both fair and tough, and has followed the rule of law at every turn.    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen made the following statement today after meeting with Judge Sonia Sotomayor:

"In my meeting today with Judge Sonia Sotomayor, she told me that coming from New York, working as a prosecutor and later as a federal judge, you've got to be tough. And she showed that toughness today by keeping our meeting despite fracturing her foot this morning.

"Throughout the meeting, I was greatly impressed with Judge Sotomayor. I already knew that she was intelligent and independent. I now know that she is also warm and engaging, and I found her to be very down to earth.    » read more »

Schumer Unveils New Analysis Showing Sotomayor's Moderate Record On Immigration Cases; Review Of Close To 850 Cases Shows She Ruled Against Asylum Claims 83 Percent Of Time

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), the chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, released a new analysis Tuesday of Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s judicial record on immigration-related cases, showing she ruled against asylum claims 83 percent of the time, a rate that places President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee squarely in the judicial mainstream.

Schumer said the figures, which had not previously been compiled, undercut attempts by Sotomayor’s critics to paint her as a judge whose decision-making is influenced by factors other than the rule of law.    » read more »

Nelson Statement On Meeting With Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Nominee To The U.S. Supreme Court

June 9, 2009 – Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson released the following statement after meeting today with Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama’s nominee to replace Associate Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court:

“I was pleased to meet with Judge Sotomayor today and I am impressed with what I have learned so far about her life, career and views. We had a very good discussion about the role of the different branches of government, her history on the bench and previous cases, and her judicial philosophy.    » read more »

Withholds decision on Sotomayor until after confirmation hearing

June 9, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today met with United States Supreme Court Associate Justice nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

After the meeting, the senator made the following comments.

Senator Martinez said:

"She is not only a delightful person, but also a very deep thinker about judicial issues. As a longtime lawyer, I enjoyed the conversation about issues of jurisprudence, the role of the judiciary, and the role of a judge.

"She is very bright and very much someone who would fit in very well at the Supreme Court.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- June 9, 2009 – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday announced that hearings to consider the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court will begin on July 13.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- Following his meeting today in the U.S. Capitol with U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:

“After meeting with Judge Sotomayor today, I was extremely impressed by her knowledge of the law and her personal warmth. I was also impressed by her honesty in answering questions and her understanding of the role of the judiciary at all levels of our federal system in ensuring the promise of ‘equal justice under law.’

I am strongly inclined to support her nomination, assuming the satisfactory completion of the confirmation process, which is designed to provide information and insight into the nominee’s academic background, judicial temperament and knowledge of the law.    » read more »

06/08/2009 -- WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today met with President Obama's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor. If confirmed, Sotomayor will become the third woman to serve on the nation's highest court and the first Hispanic Justice.

Sen. Landrieu said:

"It was a pleasure meeting Judge Sonia Sotomayor today. In addition to having an impressive professional resume, her personal journey from the Bronx projects to the federal bench is truly extraordinary. Judge Sotomayor is a historic choice who will bring a wealth of experience and added diversity to the nation's highest court. I have confidence in her fair-mindedness, and I intend to support her Senate confirmation. "    » read more »

WASHINGTON June 4, 2009 – The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday reported the first judicial nominations of the 111th Congress. Judge David Hamilton is a nominee to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and Judge Andre Davis is a nominee to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

The Committee also reported one executive nomination to the Senate for consideration. Thomas Perez is nominated to be Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice. All three nominees appeared before the Judiciary Committee at a hearing on April 21, 2009.    » read more »