AMERICAN ATHEISTS ACTION ALERT

January 16, 2003

HELP STOP PICKERING NOMINATION TO CIRCUIT COURT!

Judge Wants Bible As Ultimate Authority Over Society

President Bush has re-nominated controversial Judge Charles W. Pickering for a post on the federal appeals court.

Pickering is currently a U.S. District Judge. Last year, his nomination was blocked after heated debate in the Senate, and opposition from a coalition of rights and other organizations. Critics see the move by Bush as a shoddy attempt to "pack" the judiciary system with religious right candidates who would threaten civil liberties, erode abortion rights for women and hand down rulings which violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS opposes the Pickering nomination:

* While President of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, Pickering declared that the Bible should be "recognized as the absolute authority by which all conduct of man is judged."

* Pickering has lectured defendants in his courtroom on the need for them to be involved with religious programs in prisons and embrace religious belief. The nominee has also been accused of leniency in sentencing if the defendant professes a strong interest in sectarian religion. Pickering has even quoted from the Bible (BARNES v. MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS) when handing down sentencing decisions.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is joining with other organizations to stop the re-nomination of Charles Pickering. Your letters, faxes and phone calls to the Senate Judiciary Committee are needed NOW to prevent George Bush from "packing" our nation's judicial system!

-- VISIT our page with TIPS FOR CONTACTING CONGRESS. To have the greatest impact with elected officials, write a personal letter. This generally carries more "weight" than simple e-mail. You can also phone/fax your concerns.

-- Keep your letters polite, concise, and to the point. Be sure to sign your letter, and include your return postal address. Be sure to ask for a reply.

-- Contact members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

-- State your position clearly and politely.

-- Send us a copy of your letter, and we will post it to this web page.

-- Consider sending a letter to your local newspaper, or internet newsgroups. Educate others about the Pickering nomination and George Bush's dangerous plans for our judicial system!

-- SPREAD THIS ACTION ALERT! Get others involved.

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