FILE PHOTO APPEALS COURT NOMINEE CHARLES PICKERING IN THE OVAL OFFICE, 2002-03-06 (photo)

File photo of U.S. Appeals Court nominee Charles Pickering during a meeting with President George W. Bush at the White House, March 6, 2002. Frustrated at Democratic blocking maneuvers, President Bush bypassed the Senate on Friday and installed controversial nominee Pickering on the federal appeals court, sources said. The sources, who asked to remain unidentified, said a White House announcement that Pickering had been made a "recess appointment" to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals would be issued later. Democrats who have held up Pickering's nomination say he is part of Bush's attempt to pack the courts with right-wing ideologues. Republicans counter that Democrats have opposed Pickering and other highly qualified nominees to placate liberal special-interest groups. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque-Files