Pickering speaks at JCJC

By Kelly Atwood/To the Leader-Call

September 20, 2007 10:51 am

— Integrity and honor were the words most often used when Judge Charles Willis Pickering Sr. spoke to the crowd at Jones County Junior College.
The first speaker this year for the Rho Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa’s Honors Topic Lecture Series, Pickering spoke about his new book, A Price Too High: The Judiciary in Jeopardy.
The event was co-sponsored by the newly created Charles Pickering Honors Institute, which will academically challenge students, as well as teach them leadership qualities.
Said JCJC President Dr. Jesse Smith of Pickering, “Judge Pickering is very strong in his faith and his integrity. Honor is earned over a lifetime. If you have integrity and the will, you can make a difference. We cannot be more proud of having our honors institute named after Charles Pickering because he embodies what it means to have integrity.”
Pickering, an alumnus of Jones, told students about two battles that are ongoing in the United States: A culture war that separates historical and religious traditions from modern secularism, and the proper procedure to change the constitution.
Citing passages and life experiences from his book, Pickering gave examples of his ongoing battles, beliefs and solutions to the problems the country faces.
“Judges do not have the power to change the constitution,” said Pickering. “It’s contrary to the will of the American people.”
Pickering shared his belief that an amendment to the constitution is the only way a change should be made, and he said he stayed in the fight for this belief for four years.
“For almost 200 years the amendment process worked well,” he said. “These amendments dealt with hot button social issues. The only way to change the constitution is to use Article 5.”
After more than 10 years on the bench, President George W. Bush nominated Judge Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, but a minority in the U.S. Senate obstructed his confirmation for more than two and a half years. On Jan. 16, 2004, President Bush recess-appointed Judge Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Pickering chose to retire at the age of 67.
Through attacks from modern secularists against his beliefs, including his Christian faith, he continued to stand by his ideals. Pickering said that faith and the encouragement of family and friends is what sustained him and his wife.
He told the students that in all aspects of the country and its government, a restoration is needed for civility and respect for one another.
More than 70 students, faculty and members of the public lined up for a book signing after the lecture, including Kimberly Sanford of Seminary, a student in the inaugural class of the Charles Pickering Honors Institute.
“I thought it was a great day for the college,” said Sanford. “Judge Pickering is a great man and has influenced us in so many ways. He’s given us great opportunities, and I’m so happy to be a part of the honors college.”
Dr. Mark Taylor, Dean of the Honors Institute, said honors students will enjoy more speakers, small classes, and the opportunity for travel.
“We’ll provide monies for students to travel internationally to show them they need to prepare to compete in a global marketplace,” said Taylor. “We want them to be involved in leadership roles in their communities, give them the opportunity to grow socially and personally, and take the opportunity to instill characteristics such as integrity and honor. We are pleased to have Judge Pickering speak to our students, as he represents a life lived with integrity and honor.”

Kelly Atwood is Public Information Director with the Jones County Junior College Public Relations Department.

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