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Gov. Ed Rendell has nominated Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Cynthia A. Baldwin to the state Supreme Court to fill a pending vacancy after voters in November rejected Justice Russell M. Nigro.

Rendell announced his choice Saturday at Allegheny County Courthouse, citing "her scholarship, character and integrity."

If confirmed, Baldwin would be the first black female judge from Allegheny County to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court.

"Cynthia has been a front-runner from the start. She's someone I know and admire very much," said Ken Gormley, a law professor at Duquesne University School of Law and among those whom Rendell had considered.

Baldwin, 60, said it "is a privilege and an honor" to receive the nomination. She said she would respond by "working hard, being responsible and serving with integrity."

Nigro lost a retention vote in the Nov. 8 general election as voters reacted to a controversial pay raise for state legislators, judges and executive-branch officials. Nigro, 59, of Philadelphia, became the first sitting state appeals judge to lose a retention election.

Baldwin, a Democrat, still needs to be confirmed by the Republican-controlled state Senate, which reconvenes the third week of January.

Nigro's term is over at year's end. If confirmed, Baldwin would become his interim replacement through 2007. In November 2007, voters would elect a state Supreme Court justice to fill a 10-year term.

Baldwin told Rendell she would not seek election on her own in 2007. The governor said her pledge is customary, in order to assure confirmation.

"You're inevitably going to have political battles if the governor picks a candidate of one party who gets a leg up on Republicans when the seat becomes open and is able to run for it," said Gormley. "The court needs a justice who can get to work and hear cases and write opinions."

Baldwin would become only the second black woman to serve on Pennsylvania's highest court. The first was Juanita Kidd Stout, who served from 1988-89.

"This nomination wasn't made because she is an African-American," said Rendell. "No one in the field was better than Judge Baldwin."

Baldwin, of White Oak, was elected to Allegheny County Common Pleas court in 1989 and was retained in 1999. She has served in Family and Civil courts. Born in McKeesport, she earned her law degree from Duquesne University, then performed community legal services in her hometown. She also worked in the state attorney general's office before being elected to the bench.

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