Charles Pickering announces retirement from federal bench
JACKSON, Miss. The judge who Democrats blocked from a permanent seat on a federal appeals court is stepping down from the federal bench. President Bush named Charles Pickering to the Fifth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals last January while Congress was in recess. Such appointments are valid until the next Congress takes office, which'll be next month.
Democratic lawmakers had blocked Pickering's nomination to the higher court. They accuse Pickering of supporting segregation in the past. They also say he has promoted anti-abortion and anti-voting rights as a state lawmaker.
Pickering is set to make a formal announcement this afternoon.
Yesterday, he said "the actions of the minority" left him no choice but to retire.
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