Pickering Vows to Push Diversity

The Clarion Ledger ^ | 05/28/2003 | Ana Radelat

[MikeJ75]

Rep. Chip Pickering has told black leaders in the state he would lobby for a "diversity candidate" to replace his father on the federal court in Hattiesburg, the lawmaker's press secretary said Tuesday.

Hattiesburg Judge Charles Pickering is President Bush's choice to fill a vacancy on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, but Democrats who say the judge is racially insensitive have stalled the nomination.

[WKB]

PING

[WKB]

WASHINGTON — Rep. Chip Pickering has told black leaders in the state he would lobby for a "diversity candidate" to replace his father on the federal court in Hattiesburg, the lawmaker's press secretary said Tuesday.

Hattiesburg Judge Charles Pickering is President Bush's choice to fill a vacancy on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, but Democrats who say the judge is racially insensitive have stalled the nomination.

Chip Pickering, a Republican, has been wooing black leaders in the state, trying to marshal support for his dad. The 3rd District congressman has had at least one victory with the flip-flop of Rep. Phillip West, the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus chairman who once opposed the nomination and now says he supports the judge.

The Washington Post reported Monday that Chip Pickering told prominent black Mississippians if his father is promoted, his replacement likely would be Judge Johnny Williams, a black chancery court judge characterized by the Post as "popular among whites."

Brian Perry, Chip Pickering's press secretary, said the Post's report was inaccurate. "(Chip) doesn't have the power to appoint judges," Perry said. "What he's doing is encouraging administration officials and the Mississippi senators, Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, to seek diversity in the federal district court."

Perry also said Williams was "a good choice" for the federal court. "But the congressman is not pushing Williams solely," Perry said.

Williams was appointed by then-Gov. Kirk Fordice, a Republican, in 1996. He received his bachelor's degree in 1972 from Tougaloo College and his law degree in 1974 from the University of Iowa.

"I have been told of my name being mentioned," Williams said Tuesday night, declining to say who contacted him. He would not comment further.

[doodad]

Why? Aren't there any qualified candidates?

[bourbon]

Brian Perry, Chip Pickering's press secretary, said the Post's report was inaccurate. "(Chip) doesn't have the power to appoint judges," Perry said.

Is Jayson Blair working at the Wash. Post now? (just curious).

[dixiechick2000]

LOL! It would seem that the COMPost has, at the very least, one "Jayson."

[dixiechick2000]

The Washington Post reported Monday that Chip Pickering told prominent black Mississippians if his father is promoted, his replacement likely would be Judge Johnny Williams, a black chancery court judge characterized by the Post as "popular among whites."

LOL! Here's another one!

[WKB]

Update ping

[WKB]

Washpost, NYtimes, Clarion Ledger,no difference

[dixiechick2000]

You would think the Clarion-Ledger would, at least, do it's own reporting. They do have reporters in Mississippi to ask these questions, don't they.

Maybe that's too much to ask.