HARRISBURG -- Seventeen candidates have lined up to compete for party nominations for four open seats on two state appellate courts, state election officials said.

To qualify for the May 15 statewide primary ballot, candidates for two seats on the state Supreme Court and two on the lower state Superior Court were required to gather at least 1,000 voters' signatures, including at least 100 from each of at least five counties. Officials in the state elections bureau will review the candidates' petitions to ensure they met those requirements, said spokeswoman Leslie Amoros.

Candidates who filed petitions by yesterday's deadline:

SUPREME COURT

Democrats: Philadelphia County Judges Willis W. Berry Jr. and C. Darnell Jones II; and Superior Court Judges Seamus P. McCaffery of Philadelphia and Debra M. Todd of Allegheny County. The state party has endorsed Judges McCaffery and Todd.

Republicans: Michael L. Krancer of Montgomery County, chief judge of the state Environmental Hearing Board; Superior Court Judge Maureen Lally-Green of Butler County; Philadelphia County Judge Paul P. Panepinto. Judges Krancer and Lally-Green have the state party's endorsement.

SUPERIOR COURT

Democrats: Philadelphia Municipal Judge James M. DeLeon; Allegheny County lawyer Christine L. Donohue; Allegheny County Judge Ronald W. Folino; Philadelphia County Judge Anne E. Lazarus; Philadelphia County Judge James Murray Lynn; Westmoreland County lawyer Timothy J. McCormick; Philadelphia County Judge John Milton Younge. The state party has endorsed only Judge Younge.

Republicans: Allegheny County Judge Cheryl L. Allen; Dauphin County Judge Bruce E. Bratton; Westmoreland County lawyer Jacqueline O. Shogan. Judge Bratton and Ms. Shogan have the state GOP's endorsement.

First Published: March 7, 2007, 5:00 a.m.