Constitution once amended frequently

Writing about the recent official notification of the ratification of the 13th Amendment by Mississippi, this column quotes from A Price Too High to note that once the Constitution was frequently amended.

Today we no longer seek actual war to determine the great issues that divide us as a country. In fact, we no longer seek actual amendments to the Constitution. Thirteen states on the left or the right can block any amendment. In "A Price Too High: The Judiciary in Jeopardy," former U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Justice Charles Pickering of Laurel, Mississippi wrote, "The Constitution is not too sacred to amend, for the Founders created a process to do so. From the time the Constitution was adopted in 1788 until 1971, the Constitution was amended twenty-six times...The twenty-six amendments adopted between 1789 and 1971, constitute an average of one amendment every seven years. From 1933 until 1971, we amended the Constitution seven times, an average of one amendment every five years. No amendment proposed since 1971-during the thirty-five years since the living mystery Constitution became a prevailing legal theory-has been adopted."

Pickering speaks at law enforcement memorial & Boy's State

Retired Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Charles Pickering spoke recently at a ceremony honoring fallen Forrest County, Mississipp law enforcement officers.

"We have men and women who are willing to dedicate themselves as law enforcement officers. So, to pay tribute to those who have given their lives so that we might enjoy the American dream is entirely appropriate."

And today, he addressed delegates to Mississippi's American Legion Boy's State about racial reconciliation and social-cultural issues.

Remembering Mike Wallace

Veteran broadcast journalist Mike Wallace played an important role during the fight for the confirmation of Judge Charles W. Pickering, Sr. to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. His interview and segment on 60 Minutes changed a lot of minds and in the words of one journalist, gave Pickering his reputation back.

Pickering recounted the interview and the aftermath in a full chapter in "A Price Too High."

As many mourn the passing of Wallace, here are a few words Pickering used to describe the dean of television interviewers:

Mike Wallace pours color and energy into the room: simultaneously salty and respectful, boisterous and demur, rowdy and relaxed, cosmopolitan and earthy, questioning and knowing - the twinkle in his eyes says there is a wonderful joke in the world all around us, and he is about to deliver the punch line.

Here is a column on the Wallace interview of and segment on Pickering and you can view some pictures of the interview here.

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