Rep. Jamie Raskin assigned to Judiciary Committee, where he interned decades ago

WASHINGTON — Rep. Jamie Raskin, one of Maryland's two new congressmen, will serve on the House Judiciary Committee -- returning to work he began as an intern 36 years ago.

A college junior, the Montgomery County Democrat interned for Rep. John Conyers Jr., of Michigan on the committee in 1981. Raskin was appointed Tuesday to the committee, where Conyers is now the ranking Democrat.

"In this committee, we will take a stand for civil rights and voting rights, civil liberties and reproductive freedom, the rights of citizens and the rights of immigrants, criminal justice reform and access to justice for all," Raskin said in a statement Tuesday.

Raskin, a constitutional law professor at American University and former state lawmaker, captured Sen. Chris Van Hollen's seat in Maryland's 8th Congressional District.