Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), who has served on the House Judiciary Committee since coming to Congress, was re-elected as the Ranking Democrat on the Courts, Intellectual Property, and Internet Subcommittee.  The Subcommittee’s jurisdiction covers information technology, patent and trademark law, as well as Administration of U.S. Courts, Federal Rules of Evidence, Civil and Appellate Procedure, and judicial ethics.  Congressman Nadler was also reappointed to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, which he led as the Democratic Chairman and Ranking Member for 13 years.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to once again serve as the Ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet,” said Congressman Nadler.  “Protection of intellectual property is enshrined in the Constitution because of its vital role in promoting innovation, and I look forward to continuing to work on a bipartisan basis with my colleagues and stakeholders to preserve a vibrant patent system and other forms of intellectual property, such as trademarks and trade secrets.  I am eager to continue making progress in shaping our copyright laws to ensure that it strikes the right balance between how content creators are compensated for their work with the desire to provide new and innovative ways for consumers to access this content like never before.  The Subcommittee will play an important role in examining new and emerging technologies, ensuring that important issues like privacy and security are considered when determining the proper regulatory environment, and I will continue my work to ensure that the federal courts operate in an open, transparent, and efficient manner that provides access to justice for all our citizens.”

“Furthermore, at a time when the new president has threatened to violate the Constitution at every turn—whether it be restricting a woman’s right to choose, rolling back civil rights, bringing back torture, imposing religious tests on immigrants, or forcing Muslims to register, among others—it is more important than ever that we remain vigilant and hold the Administration accountable for its unconstitutional actions.  Defending the Constitution from the Trump Administration is a role that I welcome and am dedicated to pursuing in the new Congress.  By not divesting from his business interests, President Trump is now subject to violating the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, designed to ensure the President is not beholden to a foreign power.  As a member of the Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee, I will continue to demand that the president release his tax returns and fully divest from his business interests.”

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