[Breaking] Judge Charles W. Pickering Retiring
[verbatim] Today, Charles W. Pickering, Sr. made the following statement:
"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."
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