Castille: Save money, don't confirm 2 judges

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania's top judge is asking legislators to pull the plug on confirmation proceedings for two judges because he says the judicial branch doesn't need the expense of paying them.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille doesn't want the state Senate to confirm the judges for Washington and Bucks Counties. He says the judges aren't needed and he would rather keep the jobs empty while the judicial branch battles budget problems.

Castille asked Gov. Rendell to stop nominations because that is the easiest way to control the branch's costs. The law prohibits cutting judicial salaries.

Castille told the Harrisburg Patriot-News that the two judges would add about $400,000 to the courts' budget gap. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says Castille's opinion would be considered. - AP