House Committee on the Judiciary

U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, or (more commonly) the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement entities. The Judiciary Committee is also the committee responsible for impeachments of federal officials. Because of the legal nature of its oversight, committee members usually have a legal background, but it is not required.

=Subcommittees=

Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
=Activities in the 110th Congress=

U.S. attorney firings controversy
In March 2007, the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law heard testimony from four U.S. attorneys fired in late 2006 by the Bush administration. These included David Iglesias, H.E. Cummins III, Carol Lam and John McKay. The hearing came after much controversy was generated by the firings and news that executive and Legislative branch officials had contacted many of the attorneys in the days and weeks preceding their dismissals. 

On July 12, 2007, the Judiciary Committee authorized issuing subpoenas to the Republican National Committee for documents and emails relating to the U.S. attorney firings. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform had also subpoenaed the RNC for emails relating to the firings. Previously, the Judiciary Committee had sent a letter to RNC Chairman Robert M. Duncan in the spring requesting “prompt delivery” to the committee of “all e-mail communications and all meta-data underlying them” stored on RNC servers or under its control.

Plan to issue contempt citations
On July 23, Chair John Conyers (D-Mich.) announced that the panel would vote on contempt citations against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers. Each refused to comply with a subpoena to testify regarding the U.S. attorney firings controversy. Conyers stated, "This investigation, including the reluctant but necessary decision to move forward with contempt, has been a very deliberative process, taking care at each step to respect the Executive Branch’s legitimate prerogatives.”

Voting Rights in the District of Columbia

 * On March 15, 2007, the panel passed legislation that would give the District of Columbia a voting member in the House. This clears the way for a floor vote on the issue in the next few weeks.

Alabama governor investigation
On October 9, 2007 The Birmingham News reported lawyer Jill Simpson told congressional investigators for the House Judiciary Committee in September 2007 that former Gov. Don Siegelman (D-Ala.) conceded the 2002 election, in part, after Alabama Republicans promised to end a federal investigation of his campaign. Terry Butts, a Riley supporter, delivered the promise to Siegelman, Simpson told the congressional lawyers. In a May 21, 2007 affidavit Simpson said she was on a Nov. 18, 2002 telephone call with Rob Riley and others when a Republican political operative said Karl Rove told him earlier the Justice Department already was investigating Siegelman and he would not be a future political threat.

=Previous committee membership=

109th Congress (2005-2006)
=Votes and legislation in this committee covered by Congresspedia=
 * Military Commissions Act of 2006 (War on Terror detainee legislation) (9/12/06)

=Articles and Resources=

Articles

 * Susan Crabtree,"Subpoenas may spell trouble for Domenici and Wilson," Hill News, March 2, 2007.


 * "Breaking: Heads rolling in advance of tomorrow's rumble?," ''Talking Points Memo, March 5, 2007.


 * Kelly McCormack “House panel passes bill that would give D.C. a vote” The Hill, March 15, 2007.

Resources

 * The dKosopedia page on the House Committee on Judiciary.

=Contact Details=

URL: http://judiciary.house.gov/


 * Majority staff office - (202) 225-3951
 * Minority staff office - (202) 225-6504