Judge Charles Pickering announces retirement from federal bench

[Judi Lynn]

Judge Charles Pickering announces retirement from federal bench
HOLBROOK MOHR, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, December 8, 2004


(12-08) 21:49 PST JACKSON, Miss. (AP) --

Federal judge Charles Pickering, appointed by President Bush less than a year ago without Congressional approval, said Wednesday he will step down from the bench.

President Bush elevated Pickering, 67, with a recess appointment in January, which temporarily sidestepped the confirmation process. Some Democrats accused Pickering of being racially insensitive and harboring anti-abortion views.

Such recess appointments, which need no Senate confirmation, are valid only until the next Congress takes office, in this case in January 2005. Democrats could have tied up his permanent nomination when Congress next meets.

"The actions of the minority leave me with no alternative than to retire as Congress adjourns," Pickering said in a statement released late Wednesday.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/12/08/national0049EST0405.DTL


Charles Pickering

[Melodybe]

1. Racist fuck, I'm glad to see him go.

[TaleWgnDg]

2. I smell a rat. A large, greasy, smelly rat . . . GWBush is

dancing again. He wants to avoid a bitter confrontation with the Senate about Pickering's confirmation (it would be bloody too), in order to reserve the fight for the potential empty U.S. Supreme Court seats . . . what an S.O.B. !!!




edited to add:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.

[xxqqqzme]

3. good riddance to the racist

never should have been appointed in the 1st place.

[LeighAnn]

4. So soon?

Good!

[TaleWgnDg]

6. Whenever a president obviates the Senate "approval" to

seat a federal judge via a "recess appointment," that appointment terminates at the end of that Senates term (January 2005). In other words, Pickering had to face the Senate for them to "approve" he retain in his federal judge's seat.

He resigned instead of facing another bitter fight in the Senate where he most assuredly would face another Dem filibuster.

Oh, yeah, Bush could have reappointed Pickering to the bench again if Bush wanted to give Pickering another recess appointment.

A recess appointment occurs whenever congress is on recess (not in session) and a sitting president appoints someone directly to the federal bench.

Boring you, yet? LOL

[SoCalDem]

22. Did he serve long enough to guarantee a pension?

:grr:

[TaleWgnDg]

23. Great question, but I have no clue . . . sorry n/t

[TaleWgnDg]

24. The edit time has expired in my first response to your question . . .

but to partially answer your question: I do know that Pickering served as federal judge seated on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Pickering was appointed in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. This service established a life time pension for him.

However, I do not know whether his time served as GWBush's recess appointment to the 5th Circuit (federal) Court of Appeals increased his pension or did anything to his accrued pension. It seems reasonable that it would but I don't know the particulars.

http://www.independentjudiciary.com/news/release.cfm?ReleaseID=123
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=1207

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.

[bluestateguy]

5. we won

He can take his seat next to Miguel Estrada.

Next?

[spotbird]

19. No we didn't, I'm not sure how this is bad news

but I'm sure we'll find out before too long.

[saigon68]

7. A RACIST PIECE OF DOG DUNG

This move will go down in history as one of chimpy's most manure filled moments

[The Zanti Regent]

8. Goodbye bigot, and take your Klan robes with you.

I am sure that His Ass-Holeyness will put an even bigger asshole on the bench and Specter will go into full ass kissing mode.

[saigon68]

21. LIKE THESE ROBES ?????

[flordehinojos]

9. BRAVE AND WONDERFUL MINORITY--THANK YOU FOR HANDING DEFEAT TO BUSH AND HIS

HATEFUL JUDGE PICKERING.

[arwalden]

10. He Makes It Sound Like He's A Victim... Oh-Whaaaaa! Poor Thing!

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Yeah! God, I hope we learn the real reason behind this.

I find it hard to believe that he doesn't feel secure about his appointment when the Republicans control Congress.

[MaineDem]

12. I hope he's not entitled to retirement benefits

I don't want to be paying for this guy's retirement!

We were just talking about him the other day and how his appointment will be over. We were wondering what the Prez would do about him. Now we see. Good riddance!!!

[Judi Lynn]

13. Charles Pickering kick!

[livinginphotographs]

14. Thank god.

n/t

[underpants]

15. Oops sorry for the dupe-Glad to see him go

See ya bye!

[catmandu57]

16. Look out Supreme Court

There's going to be several openings, I hope he isn't planning to put this mongrel on the bench.

[lakelly]

17. What? Soon?

:toast: Well heres to you Judge Pickering. We hardly knew ye. (thank god) Way to go. Say bye bye you racist prick.

[Supersedeas]

18. "Democrats could have...." mmmm, Mr. Media man, care to elaboroate

some dedication to the office, Mr. Pick.

[Solly Mack]

20. sniff sniff...was there some sort of deal?

just curious