Jackson Free Press

"My nomination and permanent appointment to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has been pending before the full Senate for more than one year. The recess appointment given to me by President Bush on January 16, 2004 expires when Congress adjourns. Opposition by some Democratic senators prevented an up or down vote on my nomination. A minority of senators prevented the majority from confirming me to a permanent position on the Fifth Circuit. The actions of the minority leave me with no alternative than to retire as Congress adjourns.

I thank Senator Trent Lott for fighting for my nomination. He made Herculean efforts on my behalf. I thank Senator Thad Cochran for his consistent and steady support. I thank my son Congressman Chip Pickering who fought hard for my nomination, my reputation and the image of Mississippi. I thank President George Bush for nominating me in 2001, in 2003 and in 2004. I am grateful for his strong support throughout the process, including his invitation to the White House to support my nomination, and then for giving me the recess appointment.

My confirmation struggle lasted four years. Although I would prefer confirmation, I am in good spirits and at peace with the result. My faith is strong. I will continue to be involved in community and civic affairs. I will also speak out on issues relating to confirmation reform. I feel I can be a constructive voice in this vitally important debate.

The bitter fight over judicial confirmations threatens the quality and the independence of the judiciary. The mean-spiritedness and lack of civility reduces the pool of nominees willing to offer themselves for service on the bench. For the first time in the history of the Senate, judicial nominations were blocked by filibusters.

The recent election demonstrated that the American people rejected this unprecedented obstruction by the minority Senate leadership. Those voices will continue to be heard until the confirmation process is reformed and judicial filibusters ended.

Extreme special interest groups opposed my nomination primarily due to their hostility to any nominee with strong religious convictions who personally disagrees with them on abortion, marriage and references to God at public ceremonies and institutions. They demonstrate their intolerance and religious prejudices not just in opposing my nomination, but also that of the Catholic nominees who hold deep religious beliefs. These groups believe nominees with committed religious values are not qualified to serve on America's federal courts, despite the fact that our judicial records, statements and testimony demonstrate a commitment to uphold the law and current precedents. These far left groups cowed Democrat leadership into opposing my nomination. In doing so, they pushed those Senators out of the American mainstream, some out of their Senate seats, and the Democratic Party out of entire regions of the country.

I thank all of the Republican Senators who without exception supported my nomination. I also thank Democratic Senators Zell Miller, John Breaux and Ben Nelson and the only Senate Independent, Jim Jeffords, for supporting my nomination and their courage to fairly examine my record.

I will always be grateful to the people of Mississippi - both black and white, both Democrat and Republican - who supported my confirmation with their prayers, their words of encouragement, letters of support and trips to Washington to speak on my behalf. The people of Mississippi are a constant source of encouragement to me and my family. Most of all I want to express appreciation to my wife who walks with me each day through this journey. Margaret Ann and I are at peace. I look forward to the opportunities to contribute to my State and community in the future. I am blessed by my experiences on the Court and the work of all those who serve the Court and the administration of justice."

When asked whether he would like to be nominated again by the White House, Pickering said, "I have fought this battle for four years and I think for me, and my family, the time is right to move on. President Bush can now nominate someone younger who will be able to serve longer, which I believe is in the best interest of the Court."

Previous Comments

ID

86291

Comment

Hunh. So, now I'm an extremist because I'm pro-choice and believe in civil rights for gays and believe in the separation of church and state? Wow. Interesting how he never talks about how anyone my oppose him or any other judge because they might feel that the freakin' constitution might actually be an important document. It's just this kind of missive that illustrates what's so scary about these people.

Author

kate

Date

2004-12-09T12:44:26-06:00

ID

86292

Comment

Right, this is exactly the rhetoric that scares the moderates and undecideds. Unbelievable. Anyone who calls others extremists and then gives thanks to Zell Miller???? Anyway... I am glad he and his wife are at peace. Guess what? I am a bit more at peace now as well--one down. ;-)

Author

Jen

Date

2004-12-10T12:23:50-06:00

ID

86293

Comment

The issue should never have been about mostly whether or not Pickering shared an office with a bigot (he did), or even about the cross-burning case as much. The discussion should always have been about whether or not he was going to uphold the Constitution, the Equal Protection Clause, one-man-one-vote and the efforts to equalize the playing field for minorities in the circuit with a higher percentage of non-whites than any other circuit. I have yet to see a good analysis of Pickering's true qualitifications in the mass media.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-12-10T12:27:24-06:00

ID

86294

Comment

oh dear, I never bothered to read his statement. "Extreme groups... these groups ..these far left groups.." does he actually feel threatened? I doubt it. just a few last (hopefully) mud flings. As for the media carefully analyzing his past rulings in depth, can we really expect that from them? but it must be out there somewhere....hmmm. do we care anymore?

Author

sunshine

Date

2004-12-10T13:59:41-06:00

ID

86295

Comment

Curious that the only Independent...who the Republicans despise supported his nomination...He's not running for relection...has no dog in the hunt....Why is that?

Author

Lee

Date

2004-12-12T08:30:05-06:00

ID

86296

Comment

Your comment here, Lee, is a bit cryptic. Can you make your point clearer? I truly don't understand what you're saying, but it may just be me.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-12-12T14:07:05-06:00

ID

86297

Comment

Well... he's in the middle..... We aren't.... that's neither left nor RIGHT. And again... the RIGHT doesn't like him (Jeffords). Me included. So... could this guy be considered neutral?

Author

Lee

Date

2004-12-12T15:24:37-06:00

ID

86298

Comment

I'm still not following, but I would disagree that Pickering is "in the middle," if that is what you're saying. And what the heck are you saying about Jeffords?? Puzzled over here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-12-12T15:35:57-06:00

ID

86299

Comment

Jeffords could be neutral.....

Author

Lee

Date

2004-12-12T16:19:12-06:00

ID

86300

Comment

which means....what? Neutrality is possible? Pickering isn't? Neutral is better? Indicator of lack of passion? Indicator of superior intelligence? Indicator of apathy? Indicator stupidity? Seems like you're reaching for a conclusion about Jeffords, and then plan on using that conjecture to argue something else. Whatever. Still don't think I'm an "extremist", despite what Pickering writes in his letter.

Author

kate

Date

2004-12-12T19:00:42-06:00

ID

86301

Comment

Many on the left are "extremist"...Are you? No one said you were.

Author

Lee

Date

2004-12-12T19:14:09-06:00

ID

86302

Comment

Lee, have you even read what Pickering wrote? He wrote: "Extreme special interest groups opposed my nomination primarily due to their hostility to any nominee with strong religious convictions who personally disagrees with them on abortion, marriage and references to God at public ceremonies and institutions. " I support abortion rights. I think the government should stay away from defining marriage for anyone. I think that we need to be aware of the need for the separation of church and state. Therefore, according to Pickering, I'm an extremist.

Author

kate

Date

2004-12-12T19:17:34-06:00

ID

86303

Comment

Lee, on this thread, you're talking in cryptic gibberish here. I mean this respectfully, but why not use complete sentences and say what you mean, instead of strings of words separated by elipses? We're all wasting our time on this one so far. Some on the left are extremist; so are some on the right. Can't we stipulate that painfully obvious fact? That doesn't mean, however, that everyone Pickering is fingering (ick) is actually "extremist." Clearly, Pickering is characterizing people who disagree with his rather extreme right-wing stances as "extremists" (as extremists tend to do). This is offensive to many of us whom he would stereotype in such a way. He's name-calling without a rational basis for it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-12-12T19:20:36-06:00

ID

86304

Comment

I thought we were blogging... Donna... (oops there I go again) not trying to be HARVARD types here.

Author

Lee

Date

2004-12-12T19:35:36-06:00

ID

86305

Comment

Are "complete sentences" the rule here? This place is more akin to a chat-room than the Harvard Business Journal. Really.

Author

Lee

Date

2004-12-12T19:37:41-06:00

ID

86306

Comment

Lee, there's a long way between cryptic gibberish and being a "Harvard type." The point is, you haven't made any sense on this particular thread, yet.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-12-12T19:37:55-06:00

ID

86307

Comment

But, if that's the "rule" then so be it. I will follow; I just hope everyone else will.

Author

Lee

Date

2004-12-12T19:38:58-06:00

ID

86308

Comment

Yes, you may consider posting comments that make basic sense to other people a rule. Otherwise, it's a waste of space.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-12-12T19:42:08-06:00

ID

86309

Comment

I'll try once more. The Right HATES Jeffords. He would be viewed as the most neutral Senator in the land. He bucked the RIGHT and the LEFT. That's my point... might he be a good judge of character? So, MAYBE Pickering isn't such a bad choice. BTW... would you live next to him? Pickering that is. If you had to that is. If the price on the land or house was right. Just curious.

Author

Lee

Date

2004-12-12T19:45:21-06:00

ID

86310

Comment

Oh, so you're using Jeffords as the arbiter off who should and should not support Pickering? I guess that's an argument, but as much as I agree with Jeffords on some issues, I'm perfectly capable of thinking for myself. As are we all. I also like McCain a lot, even as I disagree with him on a lot of issues. I like independent thinkers. But none of that changes my view that Pickering's views are much more disturbing than people give it credit for being. Why wouldn't I live next to Pickering? It's his views on stuff like, say, one-man-one-vote that I find offensive. And he does that stuff in the courtroom. I'm not a big fan of his son, either, but I've had great conversations with him recently. Again, your point escapes me. Over and out.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-12-12T19:49:15-06:00

ID

86311

Comment

I thought we were blogging... Donna... (oops there I go again) not trying to be HARVARD types here. Um, that would be Columbia, but I thought Columbia was in Marion County-- not Neshoba. ;-)

Author

Ex

Date

2004-12-13T17:53:45-06:00

ID

86312

Comment

Um, that would be Columbia, but I thought Columbia was in Marion County-- not Neshoba. ;-) Hardy har har, Ex. Don't you dare call me a "Columbia type." I may have gone there, but I like to think of myself as an "outside agitator," as much as I fussed about various Ivy habits (like lack of diversity). I don't just raise hell south of the Mason-Dixon, for the record. And I was a Dawg first. ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-12-13T17:59:13-06:00

ID

86313

Comment

Heh, I know. I just couldn't resist. ;-)

Author

Ex

Date

2004-12-13T18:04:00-06:00

ID

86314

Comment

Dat's OK, Ex. U da man ... ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-12-13T18:05:45-06:00

ID

86315

Comment

Now if his son will retire we will be in great shape!

Author

Willezurmacht

Date

2004-12-17T13:36:34-06:00