I did not see “60 Minutes” last week, but from what I have heardabout the Sunday evening news program, it was a rare opportunityfor the Magnolia State and one of our fine citizens to receive afair shake on the usually left-wing program.

Beleaguered 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge CharlesPickering got a long over due public hearing by none other thanMike Wallace. Judge Pickering, it might be remembered, was given arecess appointment to the 5th Circuit Court in January by PresidentBush. The appointment came after two years of attempts to blockPickering’s appointment by Senate Democrats such as Ted Kennedy,Charles Schumer and John Edwards.

Being a recess appointment means the appointment is temporaryand expires next year. The Laurel native and father of 3rd DistrictCongressman Chip Pickering will have to again go before Senateconfirmations that are sure to be volatile and political. Democratsare still steaming over the rarely-used method of placing federaljudges.

Appearing on the show opposite Judge Pickering were some of hisdetractors — Sen. Schumer and Clarence McGee, a Mississippi NAACPleader. Both, I am told, spewed condemnation of Pickering as a manwithout racial sensitivity.

Also appearing — but in support of the judge — were twoAfrican-American attorneys from Laurel. Both had practiced beforethe judge over the years and spoke of his fairness, compassion andtheir respect for him.

But from what I am told, the main event of the evening was anexchange between Charles Evers and Clarence McGee. McGee is a NAACPactivist from Hattiesburg. Evers, of course, is the brother ofslain civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

The transcript of the exchange is as follows:

Charles Evers: You know, maybe you don’t know, you know thatCharles Pickering is a man who helped us to break the Ku Klux Klan.Did you know that?

Clarence McGee: I heard that statement made.

Evers: I mean, I know that. Do you know that?

McGee: I don’t know that.

Evers: I know that. Do you know about the young black man thatwas accused of robbing the young white woman. You know aboutthat?

McGee: Nope.

Evers: So Charles Pickering took the case. Came to trial and wonthe case and the young man became free.

McGee: I don’t know about that.

Evers: But did you also know that Charles Pickering is the manwho helped integrate his churches. You know about that?

McGee: No.

Evers: Well, you don’t know a thing about Charles Pickering.

Here’s hoping that when Judge Pickering’s confirmation hearingcomes before the Senate next year, the Evers-McGee exchange, aswell as the entire “60 Minutes” piece, will become part of thetestimony.

Write to Bill Jacobs at P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven, Miss.39602, or send e-mail to bjacobs@dailyleader.com.