HARRISBURG - In one fell swoop late Saturday night, the state Senate confirmed a slate of judges to fill vacancies in county courts, including Philadelphia's, while quietly addressing concerns of the state's top jurist by tossing in funding to pay them.
The nominations by Gov. Corbett came over the objections of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille, who had asked the governor to hold off because of the courts' $8.7 million shortfall.
But in May Corbett went ahead and nominated his longtime friend, and exiting chief of staff, William Ward, to serve on the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas. The move angered Castille, who accused Corbett of playing politics with judgeships.
