Dems looking for a moderate as Pa. Supreme Court court nominee

Senate Democrats will have a seat at the table when it comes to picking an interim Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice, but their caucus leader isn’t throwing his weight around yet.

Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa acknowledges Democratic cooperation is crucial to confirm the governor’s eventual appointment of a replacement on the state’s high court.

“Well, certainly we’re willing to — and would like and would hope that we’d have the opportunity to — sit down with the administration and determine who the most appropriate candidate for that position might be,” said Costa, D-Allegheny. “We look forward to that discussion on that issue in particular.”

The ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee says his caucus will demand that Corbett pick a moderate.

But Costa says his members aren’t interested in dragging out the process of a Senate confirmation.

He says his caucus hasn’t created a short list of desired candidates yet, but he is meeting with the governor’s chief of staff this week.