The retiring Sen. Richard J. Durbin has been a mainstay on the Judiciary Committee, where the Illinois Democrat became a leading voice on immigration and criminal justice issues and ushered President Joe Biden’s judicial picks through the confirmation process.
He served on Judiciary for more than two decades and got a chance to be chairman in 2021, after the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California stepped aside amid calls for a more aggressive or partisan approach in the wake of the first Trump administration.
During his four years running the committee, Durbin highlighted a need to tackle gun violence, improve online safety for children and press for other issues he advocated on during his time in the Senate. He remains the top Democrat on the panel this Congress.
