Charles W. Pickering, Sr.
Biography
U. S. District Judge Charles W. Pickering, Sr., has had over ten years experience on the federal trial bench. He was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on October 2, 1990, by President Bush’s father. Prior to appointment to the bench, Judge Pickering practiced law for almost thirty years, gaining extensive trial experience.
Prior to his appointment, Judge Pickering was active in civic, political, and religious activities in Mississippi. He was the head of the March of Dimes campaign in Jones County and coordinated the last campaign for a county wide polio vaccination. Judge Pickering served as Chairman of the Jones County Chapter of the American National Red Cross, Chairman of the Jones County Heart Fund, Chairman of the Jones County Drug Education Council, and Co-Chairman of the United Givers Fund. Judge Pickering served as the first Chairman of the Economic Development Authority of Jones County, which merged all private and public groups within the county engaged in economic development. In 1963 he was recognized as one of the three Outstanding Young Men in Mississippi.
Judge Pickering was appointed and served as City Prosecuting Attorney of Laurel and was elected and served four years as County Prosecuting Attorney of Jones County. He served briefly as Laurel City Judge, 1969, and was elected to two terms in the Mississippi State Senate, 1972 to 1980. He was the Republican nominee for Attorney General in 1979, and served as Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party from 1976 to 1978.
Judge Pickering is active in his church and has served many years as a Sunday School teacher, as Chairman of the Deacons, Sunday School Superintendent, and Church Treasurer. He served as President of Southern Baptists in Mississippi from 1983 to 1985.
Judge Pickering graduated at the top of his law school class at the University of Mississippi where he was on the Law Journal and served as Chairman of the Moot Court Board.
Judge Pickering serves on the Judicial Branch Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. He served four years on the Board of Directors of the Federal Judges Association. Judge Pickering is now on the Board of Directors for the Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi and works with a group in Laurel attempting to develop a program for at-risk kids.
Judge Pickering is married and has three daughters and one son. They have eighteen grandchildren.
