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Court nominees face rejection in Pa. Senate
HARRISBURG - The men nominated by Gov. Rendell to temporarily fill four judgeships on the state's appellate courts were expected to be voted down today in the state Senate.
The Republican majority will vote against the nominees, while Democrats will support them, senators and Senate aides said.
Rendell's aides said the Democratic governor had no plans to withdraw the nominees before the vote. A two-thirds majority vote is necessary to confirm a judicial nominee.
GOP senators have complained the governor made the nominations without considering their advice on whom to nominate. However, the governor's aides say Rendell sought the advice of the Senate Republicans but decided against taking it before announcing his decisions Jan. 29.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille has publicly supported the nominees, saying the vacancies are creating delays and bigger workloads in the courts.
The Supreme Court has one opening, Superior Court has two, and Commonwealth Court has one.
Two of the nominees are Democrats, two are Republicans, and all but one have served on a state appellate court.
Rendell tapped James Gardner Colins, a Democrat from Philadelphia and former Commonwealth Court president judge, to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court; two Philadelphia Republicans for Superior Court, James Fitzgerald III and Robert Daniels; and Democrat Ken Gormley of Pittsburgh for Commonwealth Court.
