Senate Judiciary Committee Archives

Stacey Abrams Spars with Republicans over Whether Georgia’s Elections Law Is Racist During Senate Hearing

April 22, 2021April 21, 2021 Admin

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee sparred with Stacey Abrams Tuesday during a hearing on Democrats’ voting rights bill and election reforms that Republicans have introduced in states across the country.

The hearing consisted of testimony from officials on opposite sides of the issue, including Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, Utah Republican Rep. Burgess Owens and Jan Jones, the Republican speaker pro tempore of the Georgia House, but most questions from lawmakers on both sides were directed towards Abrams. Democrats largely focused on GOP-led policies that they likened to those from the Jim Crow era, while Republicans blasted the comparison and said that the bills’ goals were to make it harder to cheat, not to vote.

Ohio Prosecutors Support Bill to Force Convicted Rioters to Pay for Damages

March 9, 2021March 8, 2021 The Center Square

Last summer, millions of dollars in taxpayer money were spent in response to protests that turned violent throughout Ohio. A bill proposed in the Ohio Senate looks to make sure those responsible will pay for it.

Senate Bill 41, currently being discussed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, calls for restitution from those who are convicted of property damage during riots, including vandalism. The restitution would pay the expenses of police and emergency crews who have to respond to riots. The bill also allows the government to take possession of any property left behind by those who end up convicted.

State Senator Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, is sponsoring the bill. Lou Tobin, the Executive Director of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, offered his support before the committee recently.

State Senate Advances Measure That Changes the Way Tennessee’s Attorney General Is Selected

February 25, 2021June 9, 2021 Laura Baigert

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a resolution Tuesday that would change the way the state’s Attorney General and Reporter for Tennessee is selected.

Senate Joint Resolution 1 would make the current process for nominating the attorney general more transparent and give the Tennessee General Assembly a say in the selection through a change to the Tennessee Constitution.

Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee Kills Ban on Cyber Flashing

February 24, 2021February 23, 2021 Eric Burk

Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler’s (D-Virginia Beach) HB 2254 passed with unanimous support in the House of Delegates. The bill would ban people from sending unsolicited obscene images to others. But after the House sent the bill to the Senate, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted eight to five to table the bill February 17, citing concerns that the bill could be applied too broadly.

Legislation Abolishing Death Penalty Advanced by Virginia Senate Committee

January 20, 2021January 19, 2021 Jacob Taylor

Legislation to abolish the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Virginia was advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday morning.

Introduced by Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), Senate Bill 1165 was reported out of the committee by a vote of 10-4, mostly along party lines with Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Franklin County), chief co-patron on the measure, the only Republican who voted in support.

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Barrett to Full Senate

October 23, 2020October 22, 2020 The Center Square

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted to advance U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett to the full Senate.

The vote was 12-0, with all 10 Democratic members of the committee choosing to boycott the vote.

Barrett Urges Senate Judiciary Committee Not to Assume She Will Judge Like Scalia

October 14, 2020October 13, 2020 Admin

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett urged the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday not to assume that she will judge like the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

The Supreme Court nominee repeatedly emphasized to senators in Tuesday’s hearing that though Scalia was one of her mentors and an “eloquent defender of originalism” and that Scalia’s “philosophy is mine,” that doesn’t mean she would always reach the same conclusions as Scalia.

Senator Lindsey Graham Teases: The FBI ‘Lied Their Ass Off’ to Congress About the Steele Dossier

July 27, 2020July 26, 2020 Admin

Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday teased the release of evidence showing that the FBI “lied their ass off” to Congress regarding the reliability of the Steele dossier, which the bureau used as part of its investigation of the Trump campaign.

“I will tell you next week what I found,” the South Carolina Republican said in an interview on “Fox Sunday Futures” with Maria Bartiromo.

Commentary: Trump’s Disruptive Energy vs. the Deep State

November 25, 2019November 24, 2019 Admin

For the last 56 years, this time in November has been an occasion—at first pious and lachrymose, latterly perfunctory—to commemorate the assassination of John F. Kennedy. That event was certainly a cultural cataclysm. America was a changed place after November 22, 1963.

Senate Sets Date For FISA Abuse Hearing

November 19, 2019November 18, 2019 Admin

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Dec. 11 to examine the findings from a Justice Department inspector general’s investigation into the FBI’s alleged abuse of the foreign intelligence surveillance court during the Trump investigation, the committee said on Monday.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn Denounces ‘Incomprehensible’ Claims of Sexual Assault Against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

September 19, 2019September 18, 2019 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Tuesday spoke on the Senate floor about the latest unfounded and “incomprehensible” claims of sexual assault against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Blackburn Asks Google to Expand YouTube Content ID Copyright Infringement Technology So More Artists Can Protect Their Work

September 5, 2019September 4, 2019 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined other senators in asking YouTube’s parent company Google to expand its copyright infringement technology to more members of the creative community, including those in Nashville.

Day Two of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Summer Study of the Heartbeat Bill

August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The second day of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Summer Study on SB1236, previously known as the Heartbeat Bill, was opened by Chairman Mike Bell (R-Riceville) at a somewhat unusually early start time of about 8 a.m.

Day One of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Summer Study of the Heartbeat Bill

August 13, 2019August 12, 2019 Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Hours prior to the scheduled 1 p.m. start of the much-anticipated Summer Study, Senate Hearing Room I of the Cordell Hull Building, attendees filled the room to standing room only status.

Tennessee’s Senate Judiciary Committee Will Consider a Very Different Version of the Heartbeat Bill at Its Summer Study

August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 Laura Baigert

Through a 38-minute video and a separate blog post, the uniqueness of the Heartbeat Bill that the state Senate Judiciary Committee will consider in its Summer Study has been explained in great detail the Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT).

Sen. Blackburn Joins Lindsey Graham in Resolution Supporting Customs and Border Protection Agents

July 25, 2019July 25, 2019 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Wednesday joined Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to introduce a resolution commending the men and women of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency for their honorable service.

Senate Judiciary Committee Members Comment on the Heartbeat Bill Summer Study

July 24, 2019July 23, 2019 Laura Baigert

With the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Summer Study on the Heartbeat Bill just three weeks out, every committee member was contacted by The Tennessee Star, confirming their attendance and offering an opportunity for them to comment on their expectations of the two-day meeting. The Judiciary Committee, a standing committee of…

COUNTDOWN: Three Weeks Until the Heartbeat Bill Summer Study

July 23, 2019July 22, 2019 Laura Baigert

In three weeks, the State Senate Judiciary Committee will undertake the much anticipated two-day Summer Study on the legislation known as the Heartbeat Bill. The Heartbeat Bill seeks to protect the life of unborn children from the point that their heartbeat is detected, usually at about six weeks after…

Senator Lindsey Graham: Obama Officials Worried About Being ‘Exposed’ by Declassification

May 28, 2019May 27, 2019 Admin

by Chuck Ross Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham asserted Sunday that the former government officials opposing declassification of Russia probe documents “are worried about being exposed.” In an interview on “Fox News Sunday” with Chris Wallace, Graham also argued Democrats are unconcerned with whether the FBI misled the…

Attorney General Barr Tells Sen. Blackburn Mueller Team Investigated Trump ‘Exhaustively’ and Did Not Find Any Evidence of Collusion or Obstruction

May 2, 2019May 1, 2019 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) questioned Attorney General William Barr on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday. Barr said the investigation was thorough and the allegations against President Donald Trump were proven false. Barr appeared before the committee to discuss Mueller’s report that…

Blackburn Works With Democratic Sen. Baldwin to Introduce Bill to Improve Internet Infrastructure In Rural Areas

April 12, 2019April 11, 2019 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) on Thursday introduced SB 1166, the Internet Exchange (IX) Act, which will help to improve internet access for consumers, especially in rural areas. The senators made the announcement on Twitter, available here, and in a press release, which is available here.…

Blackburn Calls on Tech Giants to Embrace First Amendment and Use Their Powers Responsibly

April 11, 2019April 10, 2019 Jason M. Reynolds

“Its time for tech companies like Google and Facebook to start embracing the spirit of the First Amendment,” U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The senator made the remarks during a hearing titled, “Stifling Free Speech: Technological Censorship and the Public Discourse.” Video of…

Blackburn Joins Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans to Move Neomi Rao’s nomination to Senate Floor to Fill Kavanaugh’s Old Seat on Appeals Court

March 2, 2019March 1, 2019 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) voted Thursday to advance Neomi Rao’s nomination to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to move Rao’s nomination to the full Senate, Fox News said. Rao would fill Supreme Court Justice…

Graham Promises ‘Judges, More Judges, Then Some More Judges’ in Colorful CPAC Address

March 1, 2019February 28, 2019 Admin

by Jason Hopkins Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the newly-minted chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) attendees that his panel will move on judicial confirmations at an ambitious clip. “Judges, more judges, then some more judges,” Graham joked in a Thursday…

Top Takeaways From William Barr’s AG Confirmation Hearing

January 17, 2019January 17, 2019 Admin

by Fred Lucas William Barr told the Senate Judiciary Committee he wouldn’t be intimidated by anyone, including President Donald Trump, who nominated him to serve as attorney general. “I am not going to do anything that I think is wrong, and I will not be bullied into doing anything…

Klobuchar Gears Up For Another Confirmation Battle As Presidential Rumors Swirl

January 13, 2019January 12, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) issued a statement Wednesday night after she and her Democratic colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee were apparently denied meetings with President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, William Barr. Barr is set to testify before the committee this week, but it is already shaping up…

AG Nominee Lambasted Mueller Tactics in Private Memo to Rosenstein

December 21, 2018December 21, 2018 Admin

by Kevin Daley Attorney General nominee William Barr sent a memo to the Department of Justice criticizing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, particularly those aspects of the probe relating to obstruction of justice in June. The unsolicited document, whose existence was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, argues…

Senate Democrats Inadvertently Admit President Trump Can Order and Conclude FBI Investigations

October 2, 2018October 2, 2018 Admin

by Robert Romano The Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 28 advanced to the Senate floor for a vote the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. But, retiring Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) did so conditionally, saying he would only support Kavanaugh on the floor if the FBI is…

Commentary: The Bizarre World Of Christine Blasey Ford

September 30, 2018September 29, 2018 Admin

by CHQ Staff The past ten days of ritual defamation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh revealed the depth and sophistication of the Far-Left Democrats’ smear machine, but yesterday’s hearing revealed the truly bizarre world of Christine Blasey Ford, the high priestess of the ritual. In this bizarre world, Christine Blasey…

Rand Paul Calls For Investigation Into Who Doxxed Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans

September 30, 2018September 29, 2018 Admin

by Molly Prince Sen. Rand Paul called for an investigation Friday to determine and punish who published the personal information of three Republican senators during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who accused him of sexual assault. “Yesterday there was…

Commentary: Kavanaugh Is Right; We Now Have Good Reason to Fear for the Future

September 29, 2018September 28, 2018 Admin

by Jeffery Rendall If the United States republic ultimately burns to ashes people will likely remember yesterday, September 27, 2018, as the beginning of the end. Or, in the alternative, if the political system somehow reforms itself citizens may look back fondly on that date as the reemergence of…

Opening Statements by Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Accuser Christine Blasey Ford Before The Senate Judiciary Committee Today

September 27, 2018September 26, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Judge Brett Kavanaugh and accuser Christine Blasey Ford will present two different versions of the truth regarding Ford’s uncorroborated allegations Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982 before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. President Trump nominated Judge Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court in July, and the Senate Judiciary Committee…

Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearings to Begin September 4

August 12, 2018August 11, 2018 Admin

by Fred Lucas The confirmation hearings for federal appeals court Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to become the next Supreme Court justice will begin on Sept. 4 and last three to four days, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, announced Friday. Grassley’s announcement comes as Senate Democrats sought to…

Mitch McConnell Is Ready To Play Hardball To Get Kavanaugh Confirmed

July 22, 2018July 21, 2018 Admin

by Kevin Daley Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told senior Republicans that he will schedule Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote on a date just before the November elections if Democrats demand access to the full scope of records the judge produced in the George W. Bush administration. Democrats are…

Commentary: Liberals’ Misleading Spin on Senate Republicans’ 2016 Supreme Court Confirmation Approach

July 2, 2018July 1, 2018 Admin

by Thomas Jipping Recent remarks by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., show the script that the left will be using to oppose President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee to fill the vacancy from the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy. The most prominent point so far is that the Senate should wait…