Former federal judge and Jones County native Charles Pickering is returning to his alma mater of Jones County Junior College Tuesday, Sept. 18, for a free lecture and book signing for students and the general public.

Pickering recently released his second book, “A Price Too High,” which follows the controversy surrounding the nomination by President George W. Bush for Pickering to serve as a judge on the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Pickering’s appointment was blocked by the U.S. Senate, but he served on the circuit court for almost a year as a recess appointment by Bush.

The book received favorable reviews by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and journalist Mike Wallace of television’s “60 Minutes” who said, “Charles Pickering Sr. has written an extraordinary book.”

“A Price Too High” follows Pickering’s first book, “Supreme Chaos,” also about the federal judicial confirmation process.

Pickering received an associate’s degree from JCJC in 1957 before going on to the University of Mississippi where he received a law degree in 1961. He is currently senior counsel with the law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz.

The lecture and book signing will be held in the JCJC Fine Arts Auditorium at 10 a.m. The event is co-sponsored by JCJC’s newly created Charles Pickering Honors Institute and the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

For more information call Honors Institute Director Mark Taylor at 477-4030.