Corbett
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Rumors are already swirling as to who will replace Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Corbett in the state Attorney General's Office.
Corbett, who takes office Jan. 18, gets to nominate a successor to fill the post he has held for the past six years.
The Scranton Times-Tribune reported on Friday Corbett will stay in office as attorney general until inauguration day.
Corbett, a Republican, was elected to the post in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. He also served as the state's attorney general from 1995-1997 when he was appointed by then-Gov. Tom Ridge to fill the unexpired term of Ernie Preate, who resigned after a federal mail fraud conviction.
Corbett told the Times-Tribune he won't divulge who the next AG will be, but did say he has some names in mind.
Of their qualities, he told the newspaper, "I want somebody who has experience. I want somebody who has common sense. I want somebody who has good judgment."
The Times-Tribune says the appointee to serve the remaining two years of Corbett's term will most likely be a Republican.
Insiders are pointing to Corbett's first assistant, William H. Ryan, Jr., who has held various positions in the AG's office since 1997.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.