Press Releases
Fifty years ago, the United States Supreme Court decided, in a landmark unanimous ruling, that under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment state courts are required to provide an attorney for defendants in criminal cases who are unable to afford legal counsel. This requirement already existed under the 6th Amendment at the federal level, but was groundbreaking for extending the right to counsel to individuals at the state level.
Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.), along with Representative Howard Coble (R-N.C.), chairman of the Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Subcommittee and Representative Mel Watt (D-N.C.), ranking member of the Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Subcommittee, announced the introduction of legislation to restore consumers' ability to unlock their mobile phones, in order to switch from one wireless carrier to another. This bill also directs the U.S.
Earlier today, the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General released a report entitled "Review of the Operations of the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division." The report examines the Voting Section's enforcement of federal voting rights laws from 2001 to 2012. Following the release of the report, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued this statement:
This afternoon, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) participated in a bipartisan Gun Trafficking Forum put on by Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Congressman Scott Rigell (R-Va.), and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.). Following the forum, Rep. Conyers issued the following statement:
"Today, I stand with my colleagues at a bipartisan forum on gun trafficking in support of the 'Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013.'
Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.) announced, in conjunction with Representative Howard Coble (R-N.C.), chairman of the Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Subcommittee and Representative Mel Watt (D-N.C.), ranking member of the Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Subcommittee, that the House and Senate Judiciary Committees will work together to find a solution that would restore consumers ability to unlock their cell phones, in order to switch from one wir
Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) attended the President's signing ceremony for the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA). Last Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 286 to 138, with 87 House Republicans breaking with their party, to pass the bipartisan version of VAWA that passed the Senate overwhelmingly by a vote of 78 to 22. The Senate version of VAWA includes critical protections for the LGBT, immigrant, and Native American communities.
Today, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI), John Conyers (D-MI), applauded the passage of the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) following the failure of the partisan and discriminatory proposal put forth this week by House Republicans.
Today, former Chairmen of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) and Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) responded to oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Shelby County v. Holder. The bipartisan group of members filed a brief as amici curiae on February 1, 2013 to affirm what the Supreme Court has declared for over 50 years: Congress can enforce Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act under Congress's 15th Amendment Powers. Specifically, Section 5 halts discrimination at the outset of any voting change made in a state.
Today, civil rights icon Rosa Parks was honored by having a statue dedicated in her honor within Statuary Hall inside of the United States Capitol. Following his participation in the ceremony, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:
"Rosa Parks was a champion of civil rights, an advocate for peace, and a dear friend," said Conyers.
This morning, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee held a full committee oversight hearing entitled, "Drones and the War on Terror: When Can the U.S. Target Alleged American Terrorists Overseas?" Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) delivered the following statement during his opening remarks:
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I very much appreciate that our Committee is examining such a pressing matter: the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or 'drones,' to strike at suspected terrorists abroad.