HARRISBURG — State Attorney General Kathleen Kane says she will not resign while criminal charges against her are pending but, if she changes her mind, the process of choosing a successor is spelled out clearly in state law.

Officials said Thursday that the Commonwealth Attorneys Act leaves the decision up to the governor and the state Senate.

If Kane does step down, her first deputy, Bruce Beemer, would automatically take over an interim attorney general until a successor is appointed to complete the four-year term Kane began in 2013.

The law says any successor must be nominated by the governor and approved by two-thirds of the 50 members of the Senate.