State Senate Republicans yesterday voted down all four of Gov. Ed Rendell's appellate court nominees, admitting that their action had nothing to do with the candidates' qualifications.

The vote was 26-24, with only three Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the nominations. A two-thirds majority was required for approval.

Duquesne University law professor Kenneth Gormley, who was nominated for Commonwealth Court, was among those voted down.

Also rejected were one nominee for the Supreme Court and two for Superior Court.

Sen. Michael A. O'Pake, D-Berks, criticized the vote.

"I am confident there is no dispute about the qualifications of these nominees, so voting them down today is just another example of the usual from Harrisburg, which is not what the people want or expect from us," he said. "This disrespects the nominees, and it fails the people of Pennsylvania."

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Chester, said the Senate wanted the governor to ask for senators' advice in making his nominations so they could help offer diversity in the nominees -- in geography, gender and race.

The entire bench of the Supreme Court comes from only three counties in Pennsylvania, Mr. Pileggi said. There is only one woman there, with only two African Americans on all appellate courts combined and no Hispanic or Asian members, he said.

Chuck Ardo, the governor's press secretary, said that two of the candidates offered up by the Senate Republicans were also white men.

"Exactly how that expands diversity defies logic and requires explanation," he said.

Mr. Pileggi would like to have a meeting with Mr. Rendell to discuss the next slate of candidates. That did happen twice with the recent nominees, said Mr. Pileggi's spokesman Erik Arneson, but the governor did not make his nominations with those meetings in mind.

The appointments voted on yesterday were for 18-month terms.

The other two candidates were former Commonwealth Court President Judge James G. Colins for Supreme Court, and Mr. Gormley. Both are Democrats.

Mr. Colins said after yesterday's vote that he now plans to pursue work in the private sector.

"To deny us, collectively, public hearings on our qualifications before the Senate Judiciary Committee, in contravention of the traditional practice of the Senate, is truly regrettable," Mr. Colins said. "... The citizens are not well served by their elected officials making critical decisions behind closed doors."