50th Anniversary of the Freedom Riders

On this the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides into Mississippi, Governor Haley Barbour apologized to those civil rights champions for their treatment and thanked them for helping to make a difference for Mississippi.



He also thanked those who asked him to be a part of this: Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Reuben Anderson, Retired U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Justice Charles Pickering, former Ambassador John Palmer, Congressman Bennie Thompson, Jackson businessman Leroy Walker and Atlanta businessman and Freedom Rider Hank Thomas.

Carroll Justice Gartin Building

Retired U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Charles W. Pickering Sr. will be offering thoughts and memories of his former law partner and former Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Carroll Gartin today at the dedication of the new building to house the Mississippi Supreme Court, Mississippi Court of Appeals, and supporting clerks and legal staff. The Carroll Gartin Justice Building will be dedicated at 10:30am (cst) and can be viewed online at the Mississippi Supreme Court's web site.

Justice Antonin Scalia will keynote the event which will also feature Mississippi Chief Justice Bill Waller, Jr.; Governor Haley Barbour; Chief Judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals L. Joseph Lee; U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Justice James Graves; and others.

The Mississippi Business Journal has a video of clips from the event featuring Waller, Pickering, and Barbour and many who attended: Gartin Justice Building Dedication

Sid Salter writes that Graves faces same "Beltway shuffle" as Pickering

Sid Salter writes about how the stalling on Justice James Graves reminds him of Charles Pickering's confirmation challenges.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has moved rather slowly on the Obama judicial appointments. Democrats have accused Senate Republicans of “obstructionism” over delays in the confirmation of Graves and other appointees.

It is unfortunate that Graves is being used as a political pawn in this process. But he is neither the first nor the last nominee likely to be caught in the “Beltway shuffle.”

Republicans are quick to point to similar treatment of former President George W. Bush’s nominees who got the stall treatment by Democrats. Mississippians Charles Pickering was famously victimized, as was Appeals Court Judge Leslie Southwick, who faced unfair opposition and partisan attacks, but finally was confirmed.

At least Graves does appear to be headed for a committee vote and confirmation. Pickering has to settle for a temporary recess appointment from Bush.

As it was with Pickering, there is no substantive debate either here in Mississippi or on Capitol Hill that Graves isn’t well qualified for the job. What is at issue for Graves — as it was for Pickering — is the perception of his politics.

Pickering was believed by Senate Democrats to be too conservative and that his political philosophies and religious faith might put him at odds with liberal Democrats on key issues. Graves is believed by Senate Republicans to be too liberal and that his political philosophies might put him at odds with conservative Republicans on key issues.

Hence, the “Beltway shuffle” and the tactics of delay and denial.

Graves deserves to be confirmed. Republican delays and denials of Graves’ nomination will do nothing to help conservative judges who were victimized during their own confirmation battles.

But particularly galling are complaints from Democratic Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., that Graves is a victim of Republican obstructionism. Few members of Congress practice that type of judicial obstructionism more often than has Sen. Leahy and more often than not against Mississippi judicial nominees.

You can read Salter's full column here: Judge Graves, like Pickering, caught in the "Beltway shuffle"

Sowell: Race Card Fraud against Tea Party

Thomas Sowell writes about the attacks on the Tea Party movement and illustrates it with the attacks on Judge Charles Pickering's confirmation.

Credit card fraud is a serious problem. But race card fraud is an even bigger problem.

Playing the race card takes many forms. Judge Charles Pickering, a federal judge in Mississippi who defended the civil rights of blacks for years and defied the Ku Klux Klan back when that was dangerous, was depicted as a racist when he was nominated for a federal appellate judgeship.

No one even mistakenly thought he was a racist. The point was simply to discredit him for political reasons-- and it worked.

This year's target is the tea party movement.

You can read Sowell's full column here: Race Card Fraud

Charles Pickering speaks to Jones County Republican Women

Former 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Charles Pickering recently spoke to the Jones County Republican Women’s monthly meeting. The Laurel Leader Call reports: Pickering gives ‘State of the Party’ address

“It’s hard to believe it was five years ago that the Senate through a Democratic filibuster forced me to retire over the issue of abortion,” said Pickering, who noted he hadn’t spoken to the group in 20 years.

“For 14 years, I could not participate in politics,” he said. “But, for years before that, as a member of the Mississippi State Senate and chairman of the State Republican Party, I was frequently in front of the Jones County Republican Women.”

Pickering noted that the Republican Party has taken great strides since he entered state politics in the 1970s.

“They accused the Republican Party in Jones County of being a country club party and said we could meet in a phone booth,” he said. “There were two Republican senators out of 52 in the state. We’ve made tremendous progress since 1970. All but one state office is held by a Republican, but we haven’t done that well on the local level.”

Pickering also discussed a pending lawsuit in California regarding same sex marriage.

TEA Party II - Spirit of 1776 in Laurel, Miss

Charles Pickering spoke at the TEA Party II - Spirit of 1776 event at the Jones County Courthouse in Laurel, Mississippi yesterday. Here are some excerpts from the Laurel Leader Call:

Sponsored by We Surround Them - Jones County, T.E.A. Party II attracted a large number of citizens from Laurel and the surrounding area fed up with the current state of the nation. T.E.A. stands for Taxed Enough Already, a core of the 9-12 Project and its Laurel-based affiliate.

That message was further elaborated on by guest speaker Charles W. Pickering Sr., a former federal judge for the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Pickering said the U.S. has shown the “Spirit of 1776” in several areas, such as coming to the aid of other countries and breaking race and gender barriers. However, in other areas the country “has strayed from our moorings and heritage,” he said.

“Judges are now making laws, deciding democracy is too slow and people are not significantly enlightened,” Pickering said. “The Congress and the President are also passing an enormous tax burden on to our unborn children and grandchildren. That is taxation without representation.”

Pickering noted that spending is out of control with the national debt likely to double within 10 years at the current rate. That equates to a further devalued dollar and increased difficulty for young couples purchasing homes, automobiles, etc.

Pickering said the culture war has further polarized America on issues such as abortion, God in the public arena, pornography and marriage. But, he added that there is still hope.

“We can’t solve problems by playing the blame game, using stronger language or a louder voice,” he said. “We must use logic and reason of ideas. We must have politicians who set aside personal interests and partisan gains. It’s not a race and not easy or quick. We have to be in for the long haul if we want to make a difference.”

Pickering concluded by referencing a famous quote from a speech Winston Churchill delivered to a group of students in 1941. “When it comes to reinstilling the ‘Spirit of 1776,’ never, never, never give up.”

Other supporters praised Pickering, who knows firsthand about dealing with partisan politics. “I appreciate Judge Pickering so much not only for what he’s done in Mississippi but for our country,” said James Nichols, a member of We Surround Them - Jones County.

The 9-12 Project is a non-partisan political group that advocates “a return to principles and values in our government and which encourages citizen involvement to let Congressmen know the individual preferences of the voters.” The group has espoused nine principles and 12 values to spread its message.

Pickering to Speak to Laurel Tea Party 6/30

Judge Charles Pickering will be the keynote speaker at "Tea Party II: Spirit of 1176" on June 30 at 6pm at the Jones County Courthouse in Laurel, Mississippi. The Hattiesburg American reports:

The event is sponsored by the 912 Project of Jones County, a non-partisan political group that advocates a return to principles and values in government. It is open to the public.

Pickering has served as Laurel city prosecutor, a state senator, president of the Mississippi Southern Baptist Convention and a federal judge.

He authored "Supreme Chaos: The Politics of Judicial Confirmation & the Culture War" and "A Price Too High: The Judiciary in Jeopardy."

For more information on the event: 912 Project Hattiesburg