HARRISBURG -- State Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin got a boost yesterday in her quest for a seat on the state Supreme Court, but she still faces a major battle in a four-way Republican primary in May.

Judge Melvin, of Marshall, sister of state Senate Republican Whip Jane Orie, R-McCandless, defeated three other candidates to win the endorsement of the Republican State Committee at a meeting here.

She defeated two other Superior Court judges from the Pittsburgh area -- Cheryl Allen of Hampton and Jackie Shogan of Murrysville -- and Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Paul Panepinto. She is a former Allegheny County Common Pleas judge and former Pittsburgh city magistrate.

Some state committee members tried to get an "open primary,'' meaning the GOP wouldn't endorse any of the candidates, but that move failed.

"Thank you for your endorsement,'' Judge Melvin told the group. "Now you have ensured we will win the general election. You are the heart and soul of the party. Let's be a fierce force that wins elections.''

Committee members said Judge Melvin was greatly helped Friday by the endorsement of Senate President Pro Tem/Lt. Gov Joe Scarnati, who has political clout and has become a prodigious fund-raiser.

But Judge Shogan said Judge Melvin, if she gets on to the Supreme Court, would have to recuse herself from cases involving the state Senate to avoid a conflict of interest with Mr. Scarnati and her sister, whereas Judge Shogan would have no such problems.

Judge Allen said she was on the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court for 17 years before rising to Superior Court two years ago.

"I have the intellect, professional credentials, character, integrity and life experience to be on the Supreme Court,'' said Judge Allen, who was a Democrat until 2003. "An opportunity has to be seized and that opportunity is now.''

Supporters of Judge Panepinto noted that he is from the highly populated southeast part of the state, while the three women are all from Western Pennsylvania, so that should help him in the primary.

Republicans noted they have their work cut out for them because Democrats now outnumber them in Pennsylvania by 1.2 million voters.

It's the Democrats who usually have primary battles for various offices, but not in the case of filling a Supreme Court seat this year. The Democratic State Committee last weekend endorsed Superior Court Judge Jack Panella of Easton for the seat without opposition, although he may face a primary challenge from Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Teresa Sarmina.

Whichever party wins in November will control the seven-member court, because there are now three permanent members who are Democrats and three who are Republicans. The party split could make a difference if state House and Senate redistricting cases arise from the next census in 2010.