United States House Committee on the Judiciary


The United States House Committee on the Judiciary, also called 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, federal administrative agencies, and federal law enforcement entities. The Judiciary Committee is often involved in the impeachment process against federal officials. Because of the legal nature of its oversight, committee members usually have a legal background, but this is not required.
In the 119th Congress, the chair of the committee is Republican Jim Jordan of Ohio, and the ranking minority member is Democrat Jamie Raskin of Maryland.

History

The committee was created on June 3, 1813, for the purpose of considering legislation related to the judicial system. This committee approved impeachment resolutions/articles of impeachment against presidents in four instances: against Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump.
In the 115th Congress, the chair of the committee was Republican Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, and the ranking minority member was initially Democrat John Conyers of Michigan. On November 26, 2017, Conyers stepped down from his position as ranking member, while he faced an ethics investigation. On November 28, 2017, Jerrold Nadler of New York was named as acting ranking member.
In the 116th Congress, the House flipped from Republican to Democratic control. Doug Collins, a Republican from Georgia's 9th congressional district, became ranking member and served from 2019 to 2020. In early 2020, Collins stepped down from his leadership position when he became a candidate in the 2020 special election held to replace retiring U.S. senator Johnny Isakson. Under House Republican rules, members must relinquish leadership positions if they launch a bid for another office. Collins was succeeded as ranking member by Jordan, who represents Ohio's 4th congressional district, but who has never taken a bar examination or practiced law.

Predecessor committees

  • Claims: Functions merged in 1946
  • Immigration and Naturalization: Functions merged in 1946
  • Internal Security: Functions merged in 1975
  • *Un-American Activities: Functions merged into Internal Security in 1969
  • Patents: Functions merged in 1946
  • Revision of Laws: Functions merged in 1946
  • War Claims: Functions merged in 1946

    Members, 119th Congress

Resolutions electing members: , , ,

Subcommittees

Committee leadership


NamePartyStateStartEnd
Democratic-RepublicanPA18131815
Democratic-RepublicanVA18151819
Democratic-RepublicanPA18191822
Democratic-RepublicanVA18221823
FederalistMA18231827
DemocraticVA18271829
DemocraticPA18291831
DemocraticSC18311832
DemocraticTN18321834
WhigGA18341835
DemocraticNY18351836
DemocraticMD18361839
WhigPA18391841
WhigNY18411843
DemocraticPA18431844
DemocraticNC18441845
DemocraticNY18451847
WhigPA18471849
DemocraticPA18491851
DemocraticPA18511853
DemocraticTN18531855
Whig & RepublicanNY18551857
DemocraticAL18571859
RepublicanPA18591863
RepublicanIA18631869
RepublicanOH18691873
RepublicanMA18731875
DemocraticKY18751881
RepublicanME18811883
DemocraticVA18831887
DemocraticTX18871889
RepublicanOH18891891
DemocraticTX18911895
RepublicanIA18951899
RepublicanNY18991903
RepublicanWI19031909
RepublicanNJ19091911
DemocraticAL19111914
DemocraticNC19141919
RepublicanMN19191923
RepublicanPA19231931
DemocraticTX19311947
RepublicanMI19471949
DemocraticNY19491953
RepublicanIL19531955
DemocraticNY19551973
DemocraticNJ19731989
DemocraticTX19891995
RepublicanIL19952001
RepublicanWI20012007
DemocraticMI20072011
RepublicanTX20112013
RepublicanVA20132019
DemocraticNY20192023
RepublicanOH2023present



NamePartyStateStartEnd
DemocraticNY19471949
RepublicanMI19491951
RepublicanIL19511953
DemocraticNY19531955
RepublicanIL19551956
RepublicanNY19561959
RepublicanOH19591973
RepublicanMI19731977
RepublicanIL19771983
RepublicanNY19831995
DemocraticMI19952007
RepublicanTX20072011
DemocraticMI20112017
DemocraticNY20172019
RepublicanGA20192020
RepublicanOH20202023
DemocraticNY20232025
DemocraticMD2025present

Historical membership rosters

118th Congress

Resolutions electing members: , , , , , , ,
;Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and AntitrustThomas Massie David Cicilline
Lou Correa
The Constitution and Limited GovernmentMike Johnson
Chip Roy 		Mary Gay Scanlon
Courts, Intellectual Property and the InternetDarrell Issa Hank Johnson
Crime and Federal Government SurveillanceAndy Biggs Sheila Jackson Lee
Immigration Integrity, Security, and EnforcementTom McClintock Pramila Jayapal
Responsiveness and Accountability to OversightBen Cline Eric Swalwell
Weaponization of the Federal Government Jim Jordan Stacey Plaskett

117th Congress

Resolutions electing members: , , ,
;Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative LawKen Buck David Cicilline
The Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil LibertiesMike Johnson Steve Cohen
Courts, Intellectual Property and the InternetDarrell Issa Hank Johnson
Crime, Terrorism and Homeland SecurityAndy Biggs Sheila Jackson Lee
Immigration and CitizenshipTom McClintock Zoe Lofgren
Weaponization of the Federal GovernmentJim Jordan