Richard J. Durbin

A Senator and a Representative from Illinois. Born in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Ill. , November 21, 1944. Graduated from Assumption High School, East St. Louis 1962. B. S. , Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Washington, DC 1966. Intern in the office of Illinois Senator Paul Douglas during his senior year in college. J. D. , Georgetown University Law Center 1969. Admitted to the Illinois bar 1969, and commenced practice in Springfield. Legal counsel to Illinois Lieutenant Governor Paul Simon 1969-1972. Legal counsel, Illinois State senate judiciary committee 1972-1982. Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Illinois 1978. Associate professor, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 1978-1983. Delegate, Democratic National Conventions 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996. Chairman of Illinois state delegation in 1996. Elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1983-January 2, 1997). Elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1996. Reelected in 2002, 2008, 2014, and again in 2020 for the term ending January 3, 2027. Democratic party whip (2005-). Chair, Committee on the Judiciary (One Hundred Seventeenth and One Hundred Eighteenth Congresses).