Charles W. Pickering Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Court, Politics

Charles Willis Pickering Sr. is an American attorney, politician, and retired federal judge who served as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi and briefly on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Known for his contributions to Mississippi’s legal and political landscape, Pickering’s career spans law, state politics, and federal judiciary service.

Profile

• Full Name: Charles Willis Pickering Sr.
• Stage Name: None
• Born: May 29, 1937
• Age: 87 years old
• Birthplace: Laurel, Mississippi, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American Attorney, Politician, Retired Federal Judge, Farmer
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Mr and Mrs Pickering
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Margaret Ann Pickering (married, date unknown)
• Children: Charles “Chip” Pickering Jr. (son), three daughters (names undisclosed)
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $1 million to $ 5 million

Early Life and Education

Charles Willis Pickering Sr. was born on May 29, 1937, in Laurel, Mississippi, where he was raised in a community tied to the state’s agricultural and industrial roots. Little is known about his parents or siblings, as he maintained a private family life.

Pickering attended Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi, before transferring to the University of Mississippi in Oxford, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959. He continued at the University of Mississippi School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1961.

His education in Mississippi shaped his deep connection to the state, influencing his later political and judicial career. During his early years, he was active in the Democratic Party, reflecting the region’s political landscape, but switched to the Republican Party in 1964, aligning with his conservative values.

Career

Pickering began his legal career in the early 1960s, serving as the city prosecuting attorney for Laurel, Mississippi, from 1963 to 1964. He then became the Jones County prosecutor from 1964 to 1968 and briefly served as Laurel’s municipal judge in 1969.

Elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1972, he served two terms until 1980, sitting on the Finance, Judiciary, and Highways Committees and acting as Vice Chairman of the Agriculture Committee. In 1978, he sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate but lost to Thad Cochran. In 1979, he ran for Mississippi Attorney General on the Republican ticket with Gil Carmichael but was narrowly defeated by Democrat William Allain.

On October 2, 1990, President George H. W. Bush appointed Pickering as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, where he served until 2004. On May 25, 2001, President George W. Bush nominated him for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

His nomination faced significant opposition from Senate Democrats and groups like the National NAACP, Congressional Black Caucus, and NARAL Pro-Choice America, who cited concerns over his judicial record on civil rights and reproductive rights. Despite support from Mississippi’s NAACP leaders, his nomination was filibustered, failing to achieve cloture on October 30, 2003.

On January 16, 2004, Bush granted Pickering a recess appointment to the Fifth Circuit, but unable to overcome continued opposition, Pickering withdrew his nomination and retired from the federal bench in December 2004.

Pickering also practiced law in Jones County for nearly 30 years and engaged in farming, reflecting his rural Mississippi roots. His civic roles included chairing the Mississippi Republican Party (1976–1978), serving on the 1976 Republican National Convention Platform Committee, and leading community initiatives like the March of Dimes and Jones County Heart Fund. In 2015, he chaired Ben Carson’s Mississippi presidential campaign.

Social Media

Charles Pickering’s social media account is unknown to the media

Personal Life

Charles Pickering is married to Margaret Ann Pickering, with whom he has four children: son Charles “Chip” Pickering Jr., a former U.S. Representative, and three daughters whose names are not publicly disclosed. He is the uncle of Stacey Pickering, former Mississippi State Auditor and Senator.

A resident of Laurel, Mississippi, Pickering is a devout Baptist, having served as lay President of the Mississippi Baptist Convention from 1976 to 1978. His civic involvement includes leadership in the Jones County 4-H Club, Catfish Farmers of America, and the American National Red Cross’s Jones County Chapter.

Controversies surrounding his Fifth Circuit nomination centered on allegations of insensitivity to civil rights, which he denied in a 2004 60 Minutes interview, though Mississippi NAACP leaders supported him. Pickering’s hobbies likely include farming, given his agricultural background, but no specific personal interests are documented. His Gemini zodiac sign and Chinese zodiac Ox reflect his pragmatic and steadfast nature.

Net Worth

Charles Pickering’s estimated net worth is $1 million to $ 5 million. His wealth derives from nearly 30 years of private law practice in Jones County, his judicial salaries (district judge salaries in the 1990s–2000s ranged from $125,000–$174,000 annually), and farming activities.