Harrisburg — Gov. Tom Corbett said Tuesday that he is nominating Linda L. Kelly, a longtime top prosecutor in the Pittsburgh U.S. attorney’s office who draws rave reviews from colleagues, to succeed him as Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement official.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kelly, 61, would be Pennsylvania’s second female attorney general. She would serve out the remaining two years of Corbett’s second four-year term, and she has agreed not to run for the office in 2012.

“She has consistently demonstrated good judgment, common sense and has the experience to successfully lead the attorney general’s office,” the Republican governor said at a news conference where he introduced Kelly.

Kelly, a Republican, will need votes from 34 of 50 state senators to be confirmed as attorney general. ongoing.