HARRISBURG (AP) _ Four judgeships on the state's appellate courts could remain vacant because the four men nominated by Gov. Ed Rendell to temporarily fill the openings were expected to be voted down in the state Senate today.

The Republican majority will vote against the nominees on Wednesday, while Democrats will support them, senators and Senate aides said.

Aides to Rendell said the Democratic governor has no plans to withdraw the nominees before the vote. A two-thirds majority vote is necessary to confirm a judicial nominee.

GOP senators have complained that the governor made the nominations without considering their advice on whom to nominate. However, the governor's aides say Rendell sought the advice of the Senate Republicans, but decided against taking it before announcing his decisions on Jan. 29.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille has publicly supported the nominees, saying the vacancies are creating delays and bigger workloads in the courts.

There is one opening on the Supreme Court, two on the Superior Court and one on the Commonwealth Court.

Two of the nominees are Democrats, two are Republicans and all but one have served on a state appellate court.

Rendell tapped James Gardner Colins, a Democrat from Philadelphia and former Commonwealth Court president judge, to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court; two Philadelphia Republicans to Superior Court, James Fitzgerald and Robert Daniels; and Democrat Ken Gormley of Pittsburgh to Commonwealth Court.