Judge Pickering's fate uncertain; White House mum on renomination

• Judge's recess appointment to 5th Circuit coming to an end

The former U.S. District Court judge in Hattiesburg and the father of 3rd District U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering must leave the job he has held for nearly a year on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court before the gavel falls on this Congress in early December. Because Senate Democrats blocked his nomination, President Bush gave Pickering an appointment to the court while Congress was in recess last January. But that recess appointment was good only until the end of the congressional session. The White House has not indicated whether it will renominate Pickering in the next Congress, which convenes in January. "We do not speculate on personnel issues," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said. "The president will decide what he wants to do, then announce it." Last weekend, Congress had a final chance this session to confirm Pickering to a lifetime position on the court when Republican and Democratic Senate leaders agreed on a list of judicial nominees meriting confirmation. Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi and other Republicans pushed to have Pickering included on the list, but Democrats balked. [more]