Cohen Ascends to Ranking Member of House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice

Congressman also gains seat on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee

[WASHINGTON, DC] – After serving on the House Judiciary Committee since joining Congress in 2007, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today was appointed Ranking Member of the Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee. The significant post gives Congressman Cohen, who was recently awarded a perfect score for his votes on civil rights issues, broader jurisdiction over constitutional amendments, constitutional rights, Federal civil rights, ethics in government, medical malpractice and product liability, legal reform generally, and relevant oversight over those issues.

“Fighting to protect our civil rights has always been my central focus throughout my legal and political careers,” said Congressman Cohen. “I am extremely proud of and grateful for this opportunity to succeed Congressman Jerry Nadler in the top Democratic post on this committee charged with safeguarding the constitution and protecting our civil liberties. I take this appointment with great humility and responsibility, and I look forward using it to continue the fight for the issues that the people of Memphis sent me here for. Whether safeguarding the voting rights that we hold sacred and a woman’s right to choose, curtailing government surveillance overreach, or working to bring justice to the victims of outdated and racially-biased mandatory minimum sentences, I am committed to doing all that I can to protect the Constitution and the civil rights of all Americans.”

Congressman Cohen replaces Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) as the Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee Ranking Member. Congressman Nadler today became Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and Internet, which Congressman Cohen was also appointed to this morning. That subcommittee has jurisdiction over copyright, patent, and trademark laws, as well as regulation of information technology, Administration of U.S. Courts, Federal Rules of Evidence, Civil and Appellate Procedure, and judicial ethics.