Biographical details on the candidates vying for the Republican nomination for an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. All three candidates received the top "highly recommended" rating from a state bar review panel:

Cheryl AllenAllison Park

Age: 61

Education: Bachelor's degree, Penn State University; law degree, University of Pittsburgh Law School, 1975

Experience: Elected to the state Superior Court in 2007; appointed to Allegheny County Common Pleas Court in 1990; subsequently elected to two 10-year terms; private attorney, 1980-90; assistant solicitor, Allegheny County Law Department, 1977-90; elementary school teacher, Pittsburgh, 1969-72

Family: Married, three children.

Web site: www.judgecherylallen.org/index.htm

Joan Orie MelvinWexford

Age: 53

Education: B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1978; J.D., Duquesne University Law School, 1981

Experience: State Superior Court judge, 1998-present; Allegheny County Common Pleas judge, 1990-97; Pittsburgh city magistrate, 1985-90; private practice attorney, 1981-85

Family: Married, six children

Web site: www.judgeoriemelvin.com

Paul PanepintoPhiladelphia

Age: 59

Education: Bachelor's degree, Villanova University, 1971; master's degree, Villanova; J.D., Widener University Law School, 1976.

Experience: Elected in 1991 to the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, where he served as administrative judge of the family court division, 1996-2000, and headed its complex litigation center, 2006-07; various positions in Philadelphia Family Court, 1971-90.

Family: Married, two children.

Web site: www.judgepanepinto.com/index.html