"Judge Pickering chose to take stands during his career that were difficult and often courageous. He has worked for racial reconciliation and helped unify our communities," they wrote. "Mississippi has made tremendous progress in race relations since the 1960s and Charles Pickering has been part of that progress."

Some liberal groups, meanwhile, protested Hatch's action.

National Women's Law Center Co-President Marcia D. Greenberger said "Judge Pickering's harsh record of hostility to women's rights and civil rights has not changed — and neither should the rejection of (his) nomination."

The new battle comes amid first-ever filibusters by Democrats against several of Bush's appeals court nominees. Miguel Estrada recently withdrew after having a final vote on him blocked for six months.

Ongoing filibusters have blocked final votes on nominees William Pryor and Carolyn Kuhl. Another filibuster is expected against Priscilla Owen, who was also rejected when Democrats controlled the committee.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Thursday, "Unfortunately, the era of obstructionism is not yet over in the Senate, and it appears that Judge Pickering will join a rapidly growing list of the president's nominees who are being denied a vote by the full Senate through the use of unprecedented filibusters."

Meanwhile, Democrats on Thursday also used rules to delay for at least a week a vote on another controversial nominee, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Henry W. Saad, nominated to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Both of Michigan's senators have opposed Saad, in protest of GOP blocking of Democrats to that court when Bill Clinton was president.

The committee only in rare instances proceeds with a nomination when both home-state senators oppose it. But Hatch is proceeding with Saad, saying Michigan's senators did not bring up good grounds to oppose him and are merely playing politics.

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E-mail: leed@dgsys.com