News

Chief Justice Asks Prompt Confirmation of Court Nominees

February 12, 2008

HARRISBURG, February 13, 2008 - Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille has urged the Senate to act as quickly as possible to confirm four nominees named by the governor to fill vacancies on the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts. In a letter to Senate Pro Tempore Joseph B. Scarnati, Castille said it is especially important that a vacancy on the Supreme Court be filled so that the court can operate with a full seven-member compliment of justices. With only six members to hear cases, Castille said, it is possible that some cases may end in 3-3 deadlocks, leaving important legal issues unresolved. The current vacancy on the Supreme Court was created by the retirement of former Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy at the end of last year. Governor Rendell has nominated James Gardner Colins, former president judge of Commonwealth Court, to fill that vacancy through 2009. The governor also has nominated Judge James J. Fitzgerald 3d and Judge Robert C. Daniels to fill vacancies on the Superior Court. Judge Fitzgerald is a former interim justice on the Supreme Court and currently is a senior judge on Superior Court. Judge Daniels last year served a separate interim term on the Superior Court. The governor named Kenneth G. Gormley, a professor of law at Duquesne University and president of the Allegheny County Bar Association, to fill a vacancy on the Commonwealth Court. In his letter to Senator Scarnati, Chief Justice Castille asked for "speedy confirmation" of the four nominees, saying: "Each day's delay in the confirmation process results in a consequent delay in disposing of the important matters that come before our appellate courts and a consequent delay in dispensing justice to our citizens." ###### Attached is the chief justice’s letter to the Senate Pro Tempore Joseph B. Scarnati