On December 1, 2008,
President-elect Barack Obama announced his intent to
nominate Eric H. Holder Jr. to be the next Attorney
General of the United States. Sen. Leahy, who is
the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has
scheduled the confirmation hearing for Mr. Holder's
nomination for January 15, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. in the
historic Senate Caucus Room.
As with all nominations, Sen. Leahy is considering this
nomination thoroughly. The Attorney General is the top law
enforcement officer in the country, leading the Department of Justice
and overseeing its work in important areas such as civil rights,
national security, and combating crime. The Department of Justice
has become increasingly politicized over the last eight years, and Sen.
Leahy is focused on restoring independence and integrity to this
important Department. Sen. Leahy believes that now is the time,
without delay, for the prompt installation of new leadership at the
Justice Department.
A former Deputy Attorney General, former U.S. Attorney for the
District of Columbia, and a former judge for the D.C. Superior Court,
Mr. Holder's nomination has received broad, bipartisan support from law
enforcement officers, organizations, and advocates across the country.
His confirmation hearing will be webcast live online in January.
Please visit the
Senate Judiciary
Committee's website
for additional information on
this nomination, including Committee questionnaires and responses from
Mr. Holder. You will also be able to watch
the hearing live through the website.
