By Leah Nylen, CQ Staff

The Senate Judiciary Committee organized for the 111th Congress on Thursday, eliminating one subcommittee and giving Democrats a two-seat advantage on each of the panels.

Chairman Patrick J. Leahy , D-Vt., decided to discontinue the subcommittee on Human Rights and Law created in 2007 and chaired by Democrat Richard J. Durbin of Illinois.

Leahy said that with the new administration, there was less need for a separate subcommittee. But he cautioned, “No one should confuse that with a lack of commitment to the human rights agenda.”

Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who served as ranking Republican on the panel in the 110th Congress, said he was “extremely disappointed” in the subcommittee’s dissolution but would continue to push the issue at the full committee level.

Among the changes, Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif., will give up her gavel on the Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security Subcommittee, a move required by the Rules of the Senate, which limit a member to two gavels. Feinstein chairs the Intelligence Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., will replace her as the Judiciary subcommittee chairman.

Charles B. Schumer, D-N.Y., will take over as chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee, replacing Edward M. Kennedy , D-Mass., who left the committee to concentrate on a health care overhaul as chairman of the Health, Labor, Pensions and Education Committee. Durbin will chair the Crime and Drugs Subcommittee, taking over from Joseph R. Biden Jr. , D-Del., now the vice president.