Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing on District Court 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 Jeremy C. Daniel, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; Brendan Abell Hurson, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland; and Darrel James Papillion, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Key Durbin quotes on Mr. Daniel’s nomination:

“A native Chicagoan, Mr. Daniel received his Bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University… and his law degree from Loyola University [Chicago] School of Law.  He has served his country in more ways than one.  As an undergraduate student, he served in the Marine Corps as a reservist.  After he graduated, he served as a Marine captain and completed tours in Japan and South Korea.”

“Following law school, Mr. Daniel worked in private practice on intellectual property cases for a number of years before clerking for U.S. Judge Virginia Kendall for the Northern District [of Illinois].  Since 2014, Mr. Daniel has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District [of Illinois].  As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he has prosecuted a wide range of federal crimes: violations of drug and firearm laws, gang investigations, and financial crimes.”

“Since 2019, Mr. Daniel has served as Deputy Chief of the Narcotics and Money Laundering.  In addition to investigating and prosecuting his own cases, he also supervises other attorneys in that Section.”

“He has a wealth of courtroom experience and a career that has been characterized by public service.  I want to welcome him and his family here today.”

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.

In October 2021, the Senators announced that they would begin accepting applications from those interested in serving as a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois.  The Senators were assisted by a screening committee whose task was to review and vet District Court candidates and advise the Senators regarding the candidates’ qualifications and fitness for the position.  In December 2021, the Senators sent a letter to the White House recommending seven candidates for President Biden’s consideration for current and future vacancies on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, including Jeremy Daniel.

The nominee’s biography from the White House is below:

Jeremy C. Daniel has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois since 2014.  Mr. Daniel was previously an associate at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in Chicago, Illinois from 2007 to 2013.  He served as a law clerk for Judge Virginia M. Kendall on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 2013 to 2014.  Mr. Daniel received his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2007 and his B.S. from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2000.  He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

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