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Wolf Nominates Two Men To Temporarily Fill Vacancies On State Supreme Court

By Tony Romeo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Governor Tom Wolf has nominated two men to temporarily fill vacancies on the state's highest court.

While Governor Wolf continues to battle Senate majority Republicans over his decision to fire the director of the Office of Open Records, he has come to terms with Senate leaders on two nominations to the state Supreme Court. Wolf says he continues to support merit selection of judges but, "It's not something that is on my list of priorities. I have to get a budget passed at this point. I think there are a lot of issues facing Pennsylvania. But I think I made it clear in my campaign that I'm predisposed to be in support of merit selection."

Duquesne University Law School Dean Ken Gormley and Centre County President Judge Thomas Kistler are to replace Ronald Castille, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70, and Seamus McCaffrey, who left amid a porn email scandal.

Both nominees have agreed not to seek election to the court.

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