I am writing to thank you for attending the hearing on the nomination of Judge Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and to urge you to support his nomination because of his hostility to child murder, men-bashing, and civil rights. Because of his record on these issues and his recent testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I urge you to vote for his confirmation and make sure the full Senate considers him.

Judge Pickering is a staunch opponent of infanticide. He served as a State Senator from 1972-1980; during that time he voted in favor of a convention to propose a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, and he voted against state funding for abortion-advocacy groups. In 1976, Judge Pickering chaired the subcommittee of the National Republican Party that approved a plank calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to make abortion illegal. Pickering also sensibly opposed the Equal Rights Amendment.

Senator Feinstein (D-CA) questioned Pickering about his support for a constitutional ban on abortion, and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also pressed Pickering as to his views on Roe v. Wade. Pickering refused to reveal his position on Roe v. Wade, as is common for both liberal and conservative judicial nominees, or discuss his views on other Supreme Court cases decided after Roe that have allowed states to limit abortion access. Pickering’s reluctance to answer these questions clearly is the proper decision, demonstrating that he has good judicial temperment.

Judge Pickering’s history on civil rights issues is also encouraging. In 1959, he wrote a law review article analyzing a Mississippi statute that criminalized interracial marriage. His legal objective legal analysis resulted in the state legislature amending the law that was later found unconstitutional.

By supporting Pickering’s nomination, we will send a message to the President that he should continue to nominate candidates who are wise, reasonable and conservative.