U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary

06/29/2009
Supreme Court Decision Upholds Equal Rights for All

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in Ricci v. Destefano. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court found that local governments cannot deny an individual a promotion solely based on race. Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor was on the 2^nd Circuit Court of appeals panel that found in favor of the local government.

06/25/2009
Smith Statement on White House Immigration Meeting
Washington, D.C. – Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith, one of a handful of Republicans invited to attend the White House’s immigration meeting today, issued the below statement following the meeting:

06/25/2009
Democrats Block Immigration Enforcement and Border Security Initiatives
Washington, D.C. – Rather than allowing an open debate on the House floor, Democrats on the Rules Committee blocked 18 amendments to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, each of which would have strengthened immigration enforcement or border security.

06/11/2009
Gitmo is the Solution, not the Problem
Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement responding to reports that the Administration resettled four Uighur detainees from Gitmo in Bermuda. The Uighurs were cleared for release by the Bush Administration following a court order that has since been overturned by a federal appeals court. However, because the Uighurs trained at a terrorist camp in Afghanistan, there was strong opposition from Congress, law enforcement officials and the public to their release in the U.S.

06/10/2009
Hearing on: H.R. 1508, the “Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2009”

06/09/2009
Meeting: To consider articles of impeachment against U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent for recommendation to the Committee

06/09/2009
Hearing on: H.R. 1521, the “Cell Tax Fairness Act of 2009”

06/09/2009
Hearing on: H.R. 2289, the “Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2009”