Community Leaders Speak Out Against Pickering
"I am distressed that the Pickering nomination is still being considered after so many people from the Fifth Circuit have expressed serious concerns about his record as a Federal District Court judge. I went to Washington last week, along with many other citizens of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, to make sure that our representatives understood that people from the Fifth Circuit -- and not just "beltway insiders" -- opposed Pickering's nomination."
Statement of Richard Glisson on Pickering Nomination, March 6, 2002
"As a fourth-generation Mississippian I am deeply disturbed by the nomination of Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Last week I was one of many people from Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana that came all the way to Washington to express concerns about how his appointment would affect women and minorities back home. "
Statement of Betty Thompson in Response to White House Defense of
Pickering Nomination, March 6, 2002
"As a litigant before Judge Pickering, I have personal knowledge of his judicial [record], and I am opposed to him on that basis...In this case in which I appeared before him as a party, Judge Pickering expressed disagreement with one of our most important legal principles that have allowed me and countless other African Americans to be represented by candidates of our choice...Please encourage your colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote against the Pickering Nomination."
Eugene Bryant, Sr, Resident, Monticello, Mississippi, letter to Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, March 6, 2002
"As a lifelong Mississippian who resides in Judge Pickering's judicial district and who is active in the NAACP, I question recent news reports that indicate that Judge Charles Pickering's personal relationships with residents of his hometown are better indictors of his future behavior on the federal bench than consideration of his troubling judicial record."
Katherine T. Egland, Gulfport, Mississippi, letter to Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, March 5, 2002
"On behalf of the Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights, I write to oppose the confirmation of Judge Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit of Appeals...The people of the Fifth Circuit deserve better than Charles Pickering for their Court of Appeals, and I urge you again to help defeat his nomination."
Sandra Jaribu Hill, Executive Director, Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights, letter to Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, March 6, 2002
"As President of the Louisiana American Association of University Women (AAUW) and as a resident of the Fifth Circuit, I oppose the nomination of Southern District of Mississippi Judge Charles Pickering to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit...I strongly urge the Senate to deny Charles Pickering a position on the Fifth Circuit and instead find another candidate who has a demonstrated record of upholding the rights of all Americans. The people of the Fifth Circuit deserve no less."
Eileen deHaro, President, Louisiana AAUW, Statement, February 26, 2002
"The confirmation of Judge Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals would further erode the protection of civil and voting rights of minorities. For these reasons, the members of the JL Turner Legal Association oppose Charles Pickering's nomination to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals."
JL Turner Legal Association [the Dallas, Texas affiliate of the National Bar Association], Statement, March 6, 2002
The Fifth Circuit is regarded as one of the most conservative circuits in the country. In recent years, the court has issued some of the most extreme civil rights rulings of any court.. The confirmation of Judge Pickering will continue this downward spiral and will further erode the protection of civil and voting rights of minorities. For these reasons, the National Bar Association...the oldest and largest association of minority lawyers in the world...strongly opposes the nomination of Judge Charles Pickering, Sr. to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit."
Michael S. Rosier, President, National Bar Association, letter to Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, February 26, 2002
"Based on Judge Pickering's past as well as his decisions on the bench, MALDEF concludes that he would not be fair and impartial to claims brought before the 5th Circuit under various civil rights acts. For this reason, we must oppose his nomination on behalf of the Hispanic residents of the 5th Circuit."
Antonia Hernandez, President and General Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), letter to Senate Judiciary Committee, February 26, 2002
