Ready for court: Pictured are (sitting, from left) Mike Fanning, Vincent Melchiorre, (standing, from left) state Sens. Mike Stack and Larry Farnese.
Far Northeast resident Mike Fanning is on track to becoming a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, having been nominated by Gov. Tom Corbett and approved by the state Senate Judiciary Committee.
Corbett also nominated Ken Powell, Abbe Fletman and Vincent Melchiorre to the same court.
The governor nominated Stephanie Sawyer and Roger Gordon to Municipal Court. The six nominees will have to run for full terms next year.
Fanning entered the 2013 campaign, but dropped out before the primary.
In 2011, Fanning had the endorsement of the Democratic City Committee and many unions and a recommendation from the Philadelphia Bar Association. However, he finished 16th in a field of 35 candidates for 10 seats.
Fanning has been a trial lawyer for about 25 years, including a stint as an assistant district attorney in Bucks County, where he worked in the child abuse unit. He’s a graduate of Temple University School of Law. ••