Mercer County is a step closer to getting another Common Pleas Court judge.

The State senate voted unanimously Wednesday to amend the state judicial code to add judges in several Pennsylvania counties, including Mercer.

An additional judge would bring the county's compliment to four. Current judges are President Judge Francis J. Fornelli, Judge Michael J. Wherry, and Judge Thomas R. Dobson. Wherry recently announced he would not seek retention in next year's election.

Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins, Salem Township, R-50th District, said Tuesday all of the county judges and commissioners have sent letters requesting his support on the vote, and he said he would support it. He added that the Mercer County Bar Association also recommended the county get another judge because of the caseload current judges handle.

There are still several steps the bill has to go through before the county will see another judge.

The House of Representatives has to pass the bill, and there is a good possibility the House will make changes to the bill, Robbins said. If the House makes any changes, the bill must go back to the Senate for another vote, he said.

Once the bill is approved by the general assembly, the bill will go to governor for approval, Robbins said.

The Herald could not reach Fornelli for comment on the vote because he was out of town, a courthouse clerk said.