By Spencer Hunt
Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - Ohio Republicans are working on a list of candidates to replace Ohio Supreme Court Justice Deborah Cook, whose nomination to the federal appeals court will be taken up Jan. 14 by the Senate Judiciary Court.

Once Justice Cook is confirmed, Gov. Bob Taft will choose a replacement.

The governor has decided not to follow the recommendation of Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer, who asked him to set up a bipartisan panel of legal experts and non-lawyers to choose two to three people who'd be worthy supreme court justices. Mr. Taft could then pick from among the panel's finalists.

"It's a very long first step in taking some of the special interest politics out of the selection of supreme court justices," Justice Moyer said.

The governor has directed Brian Hicks, his chief of staff, and Judith French, his chief legal counsel, to interview supreme court candidates, according to spokeswoman Mary Anne Sharkey.

"As far as I know, the governor is going to do what he normally does (concerning appointments)," Ms. Sharkey said.

While Bob Bennett, the Ohio Republican Party chairman, said "it's too soon to speculate" on Justice Cook's replacement, a list of names from various Republican sources quickly emerged Monday.

Mr. Bennett's office provided four potential candidates, including Judge Stephen W. Powell, of the Middletown-based 12th District Court of Appeals. Judge Powell, of West Chester, lost a 1998 supreme court campaign to Democratic Justice Francis Sweeney.

Other potential candidates are former Appeals Court Judge Terrence O'Donnell of Cleveland, who lost a 2000 high court bid to Justice Alice Robie Resnick; Appeals Court Judge Sheila Farmer of Canton and Appeals Court Judge Judy Lanziger of Toledo.

"We're simply trying to compile a list of people who would be strong candidates for an open seat," said Jason Mauk, the party spokesman. "Whomever the governor chooses will have to run for election in 2004."

Others who have been mentioned: two former state lawmakers, Bob Cupp, R-Lima, and William Batchelder, R-Medina, and Judge Mark Painter of the Ohio 1st District Appellate Court in Cincinnati.

President George W. Bush nominated Justice Cook to the Cincinnati-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in May 2001. Her confirmation was held up by Senate Democrats.

E-mail shunt@enquirer.com