Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Judiciary Committee Hearing on Judicial Nominations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Amir Ali, nominated to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia; Judge Melissa DuBose, nominated to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Rhode Island; Judge Sunil Harjani, nominated to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert White, nominated to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; and Jasmine Yoon, nominated to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia. 

Key Quotes from Durbin’s introduction of Judge Sunil Harjani:

“I have the honor this morning of introducing Judge Harjani, nominated to the Northern District of Illinois.  Since 2019, he has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge on this court.  After receiving his undergraduate and law degrees from Northwestern University, Judge Harjani worked at Jenner & Block and served as a clerk for the Honorable Suzanne Conlon of the Northern District.”

“Since 2004, Judge Harjani has dedicated his legal career to public service—first at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and later as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District.  As a federal prosecutor for more than ten years, Judge Harjani litigated a range of cases, including commodities fraud, investment fraud, and corporate misconduct.”

“His work as Assistant U.S. Attorney has earned him a letter of support from former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who served both the George W. Bush and the Obama Administrations.”

“In 2019, the district judges of the Northern District of Illinois selected Judge Harjani to serve as a U.S. Magistrate Judge, making him the first South Asian American to hold this position.”

Key Quotes from Durbin’s introduction of Amir Ali:

“Finally, we have Amir Ali, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  Born in Kingston, Ontario, Mr. Ali received his undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School.  After law school, he clerked for Judge Raymond C. Fisher on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and for Justice Marshall Rothstein on the Supreme Court of Canada.”

“He has worked for the MacArthur Justice Center since 2017 in Washington.  He currently serves as President and Executive Director.  His practice at the firm has included civil and criminal litigation at all levels, federal and state, as well as federal administrative agencies.”

“He has argued three cases before the Supreme Court.  In each of these cases, the Court adopted his position.”

“If confirmed, Mr. Ali will be the first Arab American to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.”

Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

Today’s hearing continues the Committee’s work filling judicial and executive vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system.  Under the leadership of Chair Durbin, the Senate has confirmed 177 judges to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden Administration.  Eleven lifetime judges – including three circuit court nominees and eight district court nominees – are eligible for a vote on the Senate floor.

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