After his first four nominations were rejected by the Republican-controlled state Senate, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has come up with four new names to fill vacancies on the state's appeal courts.

The Senate rejected Rendell's original picks because GOP leaders said the four were middle-aged white guys from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Senate Republicans wanted to see more diversity on the state's highest courts.

Rendell has nominated Jane Cutler Greenspan, who serves as a judge on the Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia, to fill a vacancy on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She may be from Philly, but at least she's a woman.

For one of two vacancies on the state Superior Court, Rendell nominated Robert A. Freedberg, President Judge of the Northampton County Common Please Court. Bingo. Northampton County is not Philly or Pittsburgh. We may have a winner.

The other Superior Court nominee is John M. Cleland, President Judge of McKean County Common Please Court. Rendell gets extra credit for remembering that McKean County is part of Pennsylvania. I need to get my map out.

The final nominee, to Commonwealth Court, is Johnny J. Butler, Butler is a private practice attorney in Philadelphia. Butler is African-American.

Two picks from Philly? Give Rendell some credit. He's been involved in the Philadelphia legal community most of his life.

A woman, an African-American and two judges from parts of the state most people never heard of is much more likely to get Rendell's picks confirmed.

Governor Rendell Announces Nominations for Pennsylvania Statewide Appellate Courts